that 6-halouracils substituted at position C5 by certain hydrophobic groups exhibit significant inhibitory activity against this enzyme. The most potent compounds bear a five- or six-membered cyclic substituent containing a pi-electron system at C5 and a chlorine atom attached at C6. 6-Chloro-5-cyclopent-1-en-1-yluracil 7a is the most efficient derivative in this study, with Ki = 0.20 +/- 0.03 microM