Synthesis, structural characterization and in vitro antitumor activity of novel 6-chloro-1,1-dioxo-1,4,2-benzodithiazie derivatives.

A series of nonconventional aminium N-(6-chloro-7-R-1,1-dioxo-1,4,2-benzodithiazin-3-yl)arylsulfonamidates 7-15 have been synthesized by the reactions of 6-chloro-7-R-3-methylthio-1,4,2-benzodithiazine 1,1-dioxides with 4-dimethylaminopyridine or Et(3)N and some arylsulfonamides. The free N-(6-chloro-7-methyl-1,1-dioxo-1,4,2-benzodithiazin-3-yl)benzenesulfonamides 16-18 were obtained by treatment of their aminium salts with H(2)SO(4) in boiling acetic acid. The in vitro antitumor activity of the compounds 9, 11-14 and 16-18 has been tested in the antitumor screening of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and relationships between structure and antitumor activity are discussed. 4-Dimethylaminopyridinium 4-chloro-N-(6-chloro-7-methyl-1,1-dioxo-1,4,2-benzodithiazin-3-yl)benzenesulfonamidate 9 is the prominent of the compounds due to its remarkable activity (log GI(50)<-8.00, log TGI=-5.50) and selectivity for the leukemia SR cell line. For that reason experimental and theoretical analysis of the geometric and electronic properties of 9 was carried out.