Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of potential anticancer agents: alkylcarbamates of 3-(9-acridinylamino)-5-hydroxymethylaniline.

A series of potential 9-anilinoacridine antitumor agents, 3-(9-acridinylamino)-5-hydroxymethylaniline (AHMA) derivatives with monosubstituent at C4‘ and disubstituents at C4‘ and C5‘ of the acridine ring and their alkylcarbamates, were synthesized for evaluation of their antitumor activity. A structure−activity relationship (SAR) study showed that the AHMA-alkylcarbamates were more potent than their corresponding parent AHMA compounds. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the AHMA-alkylcarbamate decreased with increasing length and size of the alkyl function. Among these compounds, AHMA-ethylcarbamate (18) and 4‘-methyl-5‘-dimethylaminoethylcarboxamido-AHMA-ethylcarbamate (34) possess potent cytotoxicity on the inhibition of human leukemic HL-60 cell growth in culture. Further in vivo studies of these compounds displayed significant anticancer therapeutic effects in mice bearing sarcoma 180, Lewis lung carcinoma, and P388 leukemia.