Studies on the derivatives of aziridine. I. synthesis and immunopharmacological analysis of amides of alpha-aziridinyl- beta-/p-chlorobenzoyl/-propionic acid.

Several new aziridinyl derivatives of beta-/p-chlorobenzoyl/propionic acid were synthesized (3, 5, 7, 14-18). The gamma-/p-chlorophenyl/-dihydrofuran-2-one 2 and beta-/p-chlorobenzoyl/acrylic acid 4 were used as the substrates. Compound 2 reacts with ethylenimine yielding aziridinylamide of beta-/p-chlorobenzoyl/-propionic acid 3. The sodium salt of acid 4 and methyl ester 6 were converted by reactions with ethylenimine into appropriate alpha-aziridinyl derivatives 5 and 7. The acid 4 in the reaction with phosphorus pentachloride gives the acid chloride 8 which is transformed under the influence of appropriate amines into corresponding amides 9-13. These amides react with ethylenimine giving the appropriate alpha-aziridinyl derivatives of beta-/p-chlorobenzoyl/-propionic acid 14-18. Pharmacological analysis revealed that the compounds studied possessed immunotropic activity; they modulate both humoral as well as cellular immune response. Their effect has been shown to be related to chemical structure and to substituents of the carboxyl group in particular.