Amino-substituted p-benzoquinones.

Based on the observation of outstanding antineoplastic activity of a number of amino-substituted anthraquinones, thioxanthones, and N-(aminoethyl)-substituted naphthalimides, four types of amino-substituted p-benzoquinones were designed, synthesized, and their biological activity evaluated. Although none of these compounds exhibited inhibitory activity against P388 leukemia, 2,5-bis[[4-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl]amino]-3,6-dibromo-1,4- benzoquinone and the corresponding dichloro compound demonstrated good inhibitory activity against the proliferating human colon adenocarcinoma in vitro. The dichloro compound was also found to be active against the leukemia L1210 screening in vitro. 2,5-Bis[[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino]-1,4-benzoquinone possessed inhibitory activity against Neisseria catarrhali.