Some new congeners of the anticancer agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). Synthesis of bifunctional analogs and water soluble derivatives and preliminary evaluation of their chemotherapeutic potential.

The synthesis of new analogs of the anticancer agent BCNU is described. It involves the preparation of N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamoylazide and its reaction with aliphatic diamines and aminoalcohols to yield 1,1'-polymethylenebis 3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureas and 1-(omega-hydroxyalkyl)-3-(2-chloroethyl-3-nitrosoureas. Screening for chemotherapeutic activities of the newly synthesized nitrosoureas against rat leukemia L 5222 and s.c. Walker carcinosarcoma 256 revealed remarkable differences between individual compounds. The water soluble 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrousourea was the most active compound of this series, effecting 90% cures in i.p. inoculated L5222 leukemia.