Purines. LXX. An extension of the "phenacylamine route" to the syntheses of the 7-N-oxides of 6-mercaptopurine and 6-methylthiopurine, and antileukemic activity of some purine N-oxides.

A full account is given of the first syntheses of 6-mercaptopurine 7-N-oxide (4) and 6-methylthiopurine 7-N-oxide (5). The synthesis of 4 followed a "phenacylamine route", which started from condensation of 4,6-dichloro-5-nitropyrimidine (15) with N-(4-methoxybenzyl)phenacylamine to form the phenacylaminopyrimidine derivative (11) and proceeded through conversion into the mercapto derivative, intramolecular cyclization between the NO2 nitrogen atom and the phenacyl carbanion to give 6-mercapto-9-(4-methoxybenzyl)purine 7-N-oxide (12), and removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group. S-Methylation of 12 and removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group afforded 5. The location of the oxygen function in 4,5, and 12 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of 5.H2O, which was shown to exist in the N(7)-OH form (19). A UV spectroscopic approach suggested that the neutral species of 4 exists in H2O as the N(7)-OH tautomer (21), whereas that of 5 exists as an equilibrated mixture of the N(7)-oxide (5) and the N(7)-OH (19) tautomers. In the in vitro bioassay of antileukemic activity against murine L5178Y cells, the N-oxides 4 and 12 were found to be weakly cytotoxic.

Purines. LII. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 8-methylguanine 7-oxide and its 9-arylmethyl derivatives.

The synthesis of 8-methylguanine 7-oxide (3) was accomplished via a "phenacylamine route", which started from condensation of alpha-(4-methoxybenzylamino)propiophenone (6), prepared by coupling of alpha-bromopropiophenone (4) and 4-methoxybenzylamine (5), with 2-amino-6-chloro-5-nitro-4(3H)-pyrimidinone (7) and proceeded through cyclization of the resulting phenacylaminopyrimidinone (8) and removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group. The N-oxide 3 and its 9-arylmethyl derivatives 9 and 11 showed only very weak antileukemic activity and no antimicrobial activity.

Purines. LI. Synthesis and biological activity of hypoxanthine 7-N-oxide and related compounds.

A detailed account is given of the first chemical synthesis of hypoxanthine 7-N-oxide (5), which started from coupling of 6-chloro-5-nitro-4(3H)-pyrimidinone (7) with N-(4-methoxybenzyl)phenacylamine, generated in situ from the hydrochloride (8), and proceeded through cyclization of the resulting phenacylaminopyrimidinone (9) and removal of the 4-methoxybenzyl group. The results of catalytic hydrogenolysis, methylation followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis, and rearrangement under acidic conditions of 5 supported the correctness of the assigned structure. An ultraviolet spectroscopic approach suggested that the neutral species of 5 exists in H2O mainly as the N(7)-OH tautomer (21). In the in vitro bioassay of antileukemic activity against murine L5178Y cells, 5 was weakly cytotoxic, with IC50 of 100 micrograms/ml. It did not show any antimicrobial activity even at 1000 micrograms/ml. None of the 9-(4-methoxybenzyl) (11) and O-methyl (12, 13, and 14) derivatives was found to be antileukemic or antimicrobial.

Purines. L. Synthesis and antileukemic activity of the antibiotic guanine 7-oxide and its 9-substituted derivatives.

A full account is given of the first chemical synthesis of the antitumor antibiotic guanine 7-oxide (5) and its 9-substituted derivatives (24a--k and 26). Coupling of appropriate primary amines (17a--e, g--k) with phenacyl bromide (16) produced, after treatment with HCl, the corresponding N-substituted phenacylamine hydrochlorides (18a--e, g--k). A similar phenacylation of 4-amino-l-butanol (21) failed to give the desired compound 18f, so that 21 was heated with 2-bromomethyl-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (20) at 150-155 degrees C for 3h to furnish, after treatment with HCl, the amino ketal hydrochloride 22 in 40% yield. Deketalization of 22 with hot 2 N aqueous HCl afforded 18f in 96% yield. Condensations of the free bases, generated in situ from the hydrochlorides 18a--l and 1N aqueous NaOH, with the chloropyrimidinone 6 were effected in aqueous EtOH at the boiling point for 20 min or at 25-30 degrees C for 3-24h, giving the 6-phenacylamino-4-pyrimidinones 19a-l in 54-90% yields. On treatment with 2N aqueous NaOH at room temperature for 10-60 min, the nitropyrimidinones 19a--k cyclized to provide the 9-substituted guanine 7-oxides 24a--k in 61-98% yields. A similar alkali-treatment of 191 failed to yield guanine 7-oxide (5). However, removal of the 9-(arylmethyl) group from 24i--k was effected with conc. H2SO4 at room temperature for 1-3h in the presence of toluene, producing the target N-oxide 5 in 56-89% yields.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Investigation of 99mTc labeled tumor seeking agents--usefulness of 99mTc-isoniazid].

For the development of 99mTc labeled tumor seeking agents, 273 drugs and chemicals were evaluated. Agents labeled by SnCl2-HCl method were injected to rats bearing Yoshida sarcoma. Scintigrams of the rats 2 hours after injection and the excised tumor and organs placed on a plate were taken and evaluated their affinity to the tumor. Isoniazid (INH) was found to be the most useful agent as a result of this screening study. Intensive study on 99mTc-INH was subsequently performed. Another labeling method, FeSO4-H2SO4 method, was evaluated and shown to be superior in both absolute tumor uptake and tumor to muscle ratio. Uptake of 99mTc-INH to Yoshida sarcoma occurred early after injection and maintained its level until later time. On the other hand, radioactivity in the blood and muscle decreased rapidly; that is, tumor to blood and muscle ratio showed rapid increase. Other animal tumor models, mouse bearing Ehrlich tumor or Sarcoma 180, were also used to evaluate the usefulness of 99mTc-INH. The labeled agent showed good localization in these tumors too. In conclusion 99mTc-INH might be a good tumor seeking agent and further clinical trials would be warrant.