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Novel antifolates with a 6-5 fused ring system, 6,7-dihydrocyclopenta [d]pyrimidine, (3a,b and 4a,b) were synthesized on the basis of combined modification of the heterocycle and bridge regions of the folate molecule. The synthetic method involves (1) synthesis of key intermediates of tert-butyl 4-[omega-(2-substituted-3-oxocyclopentanyl) alkyl]benzoates (8a,b and 9a,b) by a carbon-carbon radical coupling of tert-butyl 4-(omega-iodoalkyl)benzoates (7a,b) with 2-substituted-2-cyclopenten-1-ones (5 and 6) utilizing tributyltin hydride, (2) cyclization of either the methyl enol-ethers derived from the 2-cyanocyclopentanones (8a,b) or the 2-(methoxycarbonyl)cyclopentanones (9a,b) themselves by treatment with guanidine which leads to 6,7-dihydrocyclopenta [d]pyrimidines with a 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenylalkyl group (11a,b and 14a,b), (3) deprotection to the corresponding carboxylic acids (12a,b and 15a,b), and (4) amidation with diethyl glutamate and deesterification. Potent dihydrofolate reductase inhibition and highly potent cell growth inhibition were found with 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-fused cyclopentene compounds containing the trimethylene (3a) or ethylene bridge (3b) but not with the corresponding 2-amino-4-hydroxy analogs (4a,b). Compounds 3a and 3b were more growth inhibitory to several tumor cell lines (P388, colon 26, colon 38, and KB) than was methotrexate, with 3a being the most potent. Both 3a and 3b gave increases in the lifespan of P388 leukemic mice comparable to that observed with MTX. Both compounds were therapeutic against colon 26 colorectal carcinoma in mice. Compound 3a was highly effective against LC-6 non-small cell lung carcinoma in nude mice.

Structural modifications of an extremely potent inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity and tumor cell growth, N-[4-[3-(2,4-diamino-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidin-5- yl)propyl]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (1), have led to the synthesis of new cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine-based antifolates, including those with low alkyl substituted trimethylene bridges (2a, b) and isosterically modified bridges (ethyleneoxa, 2c; ethyleneamino, 2d; the N-methyl- and N-ethyl derivatives of 2d, 2e, f) and those in which the benzene ring of 1 has been replaced by heterocyclic isosters (indole, 2g; indoline, 2h; thiophene, 2i). These new analogs are highly potent as DHFR and cell growth inhibitors, and most of them are more potent than methotrexate (MTX) and 10-ethyl-10-deazapterin (10-EDAM) in inhibiting tumor cell growth (P388 MTX-sensitive and MTX-resistant, colon 26 and KB) on 72 h drug exposure. Among them, 2a (the 10-methyl derivative of 1) and 2i were most potent, being 2- to 3-fold more potent than 10-EDAM. On 4 h drug exposure, the growth-inhibitory activity of these analogs was radically influenced by even minor structural changes. Compounds 1, 2a--e, g--i were much more cytotoxic in colon 26 cell line than were MTX and 10-EDAM, with 2d and 2i being most potent, followed by 2a. Structure-activity relationships and their possible significance are discussed.

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