2-Acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones. 6.2-Acetylpyridine and 2-butyrylpyridine thiosemicarbazones as antileukemic agents.

N4-Monosubstituted and N4,N4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazones derived from 2-acetylpyridine, 2-acetyl-6-methylpyridine and 2-butyrylpyridine, and N4,N4-disubstituted selenosemicarbazones derived from 2-acetylpyridine were evaluated against leukemia P388 in the mouse. Significant antitumor activity (T/C greater than 125%) was observed for members of each class. Enhancement of antitumor activity resulted from increasing the size of the N4-substituent of the thiosemicarbazone moiety. Selenosemicarbazones were less active than the corresponding thiosemicarbazones.