Synthetic modification of the 2-oxypropionic acid moiety in 2-{4-[(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)oxy]phenoxy}propionic acid (XK469), and consequent antitumor effects. Part 4.

The criteria for the activity of 2-{4-[(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)oxy]phenoxy}propionic acid (XK469) and 2-{4-[(7-bromo-2-quinolinyl)oxy]phenoxy}propionic acid (SH80) against transplanted tumors in mice established in previous studies, require a (7-halo-2-quinoxalinoxy)- or a (7-halo-2-quinolinoxyl)-residue, respectively, bridged via a 1,4-OC(6)H(4)O-linker to C(2) of propionic acid. The present work demonstrates that substitution of fluorine at the 3-position of the 1,4-OC(6)H(4)O-linker of XK469 leads to a 10-fold reduction in activity, whereas the corresponding 2-fluoro analog proved to be 100-fold less active than XK469. Moreover, the latter tolerated substitution of but a single, additional methyl group to the 2-position of the propionic acid moiety, that is, the isobutyric acid analog, without loss of significant in vivo activity. Indeed, an intact 2-oxypropionic acid moiety is a prerequisite for maximum antitumor activity of 1a.