Synthesis of potential anticancer agents. Pyrido[4,3-b][1,4]oxazines and pyrido[4,3-b][1,4]thiazines.

Hydrolysis of the chloro group of ethyl (6-amino-4-chloro-5-nitropyridin-2-yl)carbamate (3) with formic acid gave the corresponding 4-hydroxypyridine 4. Catalytic hydrogenation of the nitro group of 4 gave the 5-amino-4-hydroxypyridine 5, which was reacted with alpha-halo ketones in acetic acid at room temperature to give a series of 3- and 2,3-substituted ethyl (5-amino-2H-pyrido[4,3-b][1,4]oxazin-7-yl)carbamates 8. Treatment of 8 with hot concentrated hydrochloric acid regenerated the pyridine synthon 5. In the reaction of 3 with thioacetate, the product underwent hydrolysis and air-oxidation to give the corresponding disulfide 6. Simultaneous reduction of both the nitro group and disulfide linkage of 6 gave the 5-amino-4-mercaptopyridine 7, which was reacted with alpha-halo ketones either in acetic acid at room temperature or in a mixture of ethanol and water at reflux to give a series of 3-, 2,3-, and 2,2,3-substituted ethyl (5-amino-2H-pyridol[4,3-b][1,4]thiazin-7-yl)carbamates 9. The effects of these pyridooxazines and pyridothiazines upon the proliferation and the mitotic index of cultured L1210 cells and upon the survival of mice bearing P388 leukemia were determined.