New anticancer agents: alterations of the carbamate group of ethyl (5-amino-1,2-dihydro-3-phenylpyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin-7-yl)car bamates.

The ethyl (1,2-dihydropyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin-7-yl)carbamates have been reported to bind with cellular tubulin, to produce an accumulation of cells at mitosis, and to exhibit cytotoxic activity against experimental neoplasms in mice. Studies on the disposition of ethyl (5-amino-1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-3-phenylpyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin-7 -yl)carbamate (8) in mice showed that one metabolite was formed by cleavage of the ethyl carbamate moiety. Analogues with alterations in the carbamate group were prepared by transformations at the carbamate of 8, by reductive cyclization of nitropyridine intermediates, and by hydride reduction of the ring of heteroaromatic compounds. In vitro and in vivo evaluations of analogues indicated that a carbamate group was required for activity. No significant change in activity was observed when ethyl was replaced by methyl. However, activity was reduced when ethyl was replaced with bulky aliphatic groups and when ethoxy was replaced with a methylamino group. Also, the activity of 8 was decreased by acetylation of the 5-amino group and was destroyed by substitution of an amino group at the 8-position.