Synthesis of 7-oxo-7H-benzo[e]perimidine-4-carboxamides as potential antitumor drugs.

A series of 7-oxo-7H-benzo[e]perimidine-4-carboxamides (4a-f) was synthetized from the corresponding acid (3) and the suitable amines by the "mixed anhydride" method. The amide derivatives were tested for antitumor activity against P 388 leukemia "in vivo". Only the N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-7-oxo-7H-benzo[e]perimidine-4-carboxa mid e (4b) shows borderline antineoplastic activity.