title: Antineoplastic agents. 1. N-Protected vinyl, 1,2-dihaloethyl, and cyanomethyl esters of phenylalanine.
abstract: A series of N-protected vinyl, 1,2-dihaloethyl, and cyanomethyl esters of phenylalanine was synthesized and these compounds were evaluated for antitumor activity against the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in CF1 male mice (33 mg/kg/day), Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in Sprague-Dawley male rats (2.5 mg/kg/day), and P388 lymphocytic leukemia in DBA/2 mice (20 mg/kg/day). Structure-activity relationships were evaluated and acute toxicity studies (LD50 determinations) in male CF1 mice were also carried out on selected compounds. Carbobenzoxy-L0phenylalanine vinyl ester (5), N-carbobenzoxy-L-phenylalanine 1,2-dibromoethyl ester (12), and N-carbobenzoxy-L-phenylalanine cyanomethyl ester (8) were found to be very potent inhibitors of Ehrlich ascites tumor growth at nontoxic doses cited above. Compounds 5 and 12 also tripled survival time in the Walker 256 system. LD50 values for compounds 5, 12, and 8 were greater than 2000 mg/kg (greater than 6.15 mmol/kg), 74 mg/kg (0.15 mmol/kg), and 150 mg/kg (0.44 mmol/kg), respectively.
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000503:physiopathology; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000503:physiopathology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000097:Acetonitriles; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D010649:Phenylalanine