The new compound N ε -(4-amino-1,6-dihydro-1-methyl-5-nitroso-6-oxopyrimidin-2-yl)-L-lysine (H 2 L) has been synthesised and its molecular structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The Brönsted acid/base character of H 2 L has been determined in water in the pH range 2.5-10.0, and the nature of the observed protonation steps determined by potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods. The adsorption of H 2 L on a commercial activated carbon (AC) in aqueous solution is irreversible, mainly due to the electronic behaviour of the π system of the pyrimidine moiety. The adsorption of H 2 L on the AC provides a route to develop NH 3 + -CHR-COO --type functions on the AC surface,