[Tridentate N-N-N chelating systems as potential antitumor agents].

Tridentate chelating agents, as potential antitumor agents, were prepared by condensing 2-quinolylhydrazines, 2-pyridylhydrazine and 2-benzothiazolylhydrazine with pyridine-2-aldehyde, 6-methylpyridine-2-aldehyde, 2-acetylpyridine and 2-benzoylpyridine. All compounds were tested against Lymphocytic leukemia P388. The active pyridine-2-aldehyde-4-methyl-2-quinolylhydrazone [1-(4'-methyl-2'-quinolyl)-3-(2'-pyridyl)-1,2-diaza-2-propene] (I d) was also tested against other experimental tumors and proved inactive.