N,N′-Alkylene-bis(Acrylamides), N-(Acrylamidomethyl)-3-Halopropionamides and Related Compounds : a New Series of Anti-tumour Agents

Abstract

THE chemical, biological and clinical aspects of the ‘alkylating agents’ as anti-tumour agents have been reviewed thoroughly^1,2. The available data indicate that at least two minimal requirements are necessary for possible alkylating agents²: (1) Such compounds must either have a certain chemical reactivity, or be converted in vivo to structures that do ; (2) although polyfunctionality is not a rigid requirement for activity, the most active alkylating agents are polyfunctional. Functional groups with chemical reactivity are usually defined as those able to react with nucleophilic groups such as amino and mercapto, and the anions of carboxylic and phosphoric acids.