Synthesis and characterization of thiol containing furoxan derivatives as coligands for the preparation of potential bioreductive radiopharmaceuticals.

The synthesis and characterization of thiol-containing 1,2,5-oxadiazole N-oxide (TONO) derivatives and their use as monodentate coligands for the preparation of (99m)Tc complexes is presented. 3-Mercaptomethyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol N(2)-oxide and 3-(4-mercaptophenylmethylidenhydrazinocarbonyloxymethyl)-4-phenyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol N(2)-oxide were successfully synthesized and combined with the tridentate ligand N,N-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)-N',N'-diethylethylenediamine (BMEDA) to prepare "3+1 mixed ligand" technetium complexes. The( 99m)Tc complexes were obtained in high yield and radiochemical purity using low concentration of ligand and coligand. An alternative procedure using a xantate and a disulphide precursor of 3-mercaptomethyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol N(2)-oxide yielded the same complex. Biological evaluation of the potentiality of the( 99m)Tc complexes as bioreductive radiopharmaceuticals was performed in normal CD1 mice and in mice bearing induced sarcoma. Tumour uptake was moderate but tumour/soft tissue ratio was favourable. Although these results are encouraging, further development is still necessary in order to achieve higher tumour uptake and lower gastrointestinal activity.

1, 2, 4-Triazine N-oxide derivatives: studies as potential hypoxic cytotoxins. Part II.

New 1, 2, 4-Triazine N-oxide and N, N'-dioxide derivatives were synthesized in order to obtain compounds as selective hypoxic cell cytotoxins. The starting heterocycles have been prepared using a standard microwave oven in a clean and good-yielded process. The reactivity of methyl-1, 2, 4-triazine N(4)-oxide and N(1), N(4)-dioxide with different electrophilic agents has been studied. The desired products were obtained only when iminium electrophiles were employed. The regioselectivity of this process has been studied by means of experimental and theoretical (at ab initio level) procedures. Theoretically was expected that the most stable intermediates where the benzylic-like anion from position 5. A fact which agreed with the experimental observed regioselectivity. The new compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity in oxia and hypoxia. Some of them proved to be less active in hypoxic conditions than tirapazamine, 3-amino-benzo[1, 2-e]1, 2, 4-triazine N(1), N(4)-dioxide. Derivative 19, 6-methyl-5-[2-(5-nitrothienyl)ethenyl)-1, 2, 4-triazine N(4)-oxide, was the most cytotoxic compound, but it was non-selective.