Potential bis-alkylating agents for cancer chemotherapy. Approaches to the synthesis of 2-sulfonyl-1,4-bis(methanesulfonoxy)butanes.

Three general methods for the synthesis of derivatives of the bis-alkylating agent, myleran [1,4-bis(methane-sulfonoxy)butane (1)], are presented. These derivatives contain a lipophilic group attached to the 2 position of 1,4-bis(methanesulfonoxy)butane by means of a sulfonyl function. As examples of the scope of the methods, the synthesis of seven such derivatives (12a-g) is presented. All seven were inactive against L1210 and P388 leukemia in the mouse.