Synthesis and antitumor activity of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with a bridge chain containing a nitrogen atom

Abstract

Novel pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates (1a, b and 2a, b) with a nitrogen atom in the bridge chain between the 2,4-diaminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and phenylene rings were designed and efficiently synthesized. These compounds exhibited more potent inhibitory activities than methotrexate (MTX) against the proliferation of human epidermoid carcinoma KB cells and human non-small cell lung carcinoma A549 cells despite their modest dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)-inhibitory potency.