NEW POTENT MITOMYCIN DERIVATIVES - SYNTHESIS AND ANTITUMOR-ACTIVITY OF 7,7-(ETHYLENEDIOXY)MITOMYCINS

A series of 6,7-dihydro-7,7-(ethylenedioxy)mitomycins was synthesized and evaluated for antitumor and anticellular activities. These compounds were prepared by basic treatment of 7-methoxymitomycins with ethylene glycol, and were structurally novel mitomycin derivatives containing a masked quinone moiety. 5,6-Enol or 6-chloro derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-7,7-(ethylenedioxy)mitomycins were also prepared and the (allyloxy)carbonyl group at the aziridine nitrogen has proved to be an efficient protecting group in chemical modification of mitomycins. Most of these mitomycin derivatives displayed potent antitumor activity against P388 leukemia in mice and anticellular activity against HeLa S3 cells.