A series of water soluble N (1)-and C (6)-substituted uracil pyridinium compounds were prepared as potential inhibitors of thymidine phosphorylase (TP). The C (6)-uracil substituted derivatives were the most active. 1-[(5-Chloro-2, 4-dihydroxypyrimidin-6-yl) methyl] pyridinium chloride, was identified as the best inhibitor being 5-fold more potent than the known inhibitor, 6-amino-5-bromouracil.