Studies on cyclophosphamide metabolites and their related compounds. 2. Preparation of an active species of cyclophosphamide and related compounds.

A synthetic study was made on the active metabolite of cyclophosphamide. Ozonolysis of O-(3 butenyl)-N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphorodiamidate, prepared by reaction of POC13 with 3-buten-1-ol followed by treatment with N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)amine (nor mustard) and NH3, afforded 2-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-4-hydroperoxytetrahydro-2H-1, 3,2-oxazaphosphorine 2-oxide (4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide). Deoxygenation of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide by triphenylphosphine yielded 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide in a pure crystalline state. These products exhibited high cytostatic activity in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results give confirmatory evidence for the hypothesis that C4-hydroxylation on the 1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane ring of cyclophosphamide is necessary for its activation.