SYNTHESIS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF NONACYCLIC AND TRISDECACYCLIC PYRAZINES RELATED TO CEPHALOSTATIN

Steroidal alpha-azidoketones are converted through catalytic reduction to C2 symmetrical nonacyclic and trisdecacyclic pyrazines. An unusual azide-mediated formation of an unsymmetrical heterobenzyl azide was observed. In vitro testing of the symmetrical pyrazines revealed cytotoxicity of about 10(-5) M; the azidopyrazine was about 100-fold more cytotoxic. Animal testing of one of the derivatives in the xenograft implanted H/1.2-NRK and K/1-NRK cell lines showed inhibition of tumor growth between 50-60%.