Zon G, Ludeman S M, Ozkan G, Chandrasegaran S, Hammer C F, Dickerson R, Mizuta K, Egan W
J Pharm Sci. 1983 Jun;72(6):687-91. doi: 10.1002/jps.2600720622.
3-Fluoro-, 3-chloro-, and 3-bromocyclophosphamide were prepared from the reaction of trifluoromethylhypofluorite, sodium hypochlorite, and bromine with the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide. Treatment of cis- and trans-4-phenylcyclophosphamide and 5,6-benzocyclophosphamide with sodium hypochlorite afforded cis- and trans-3-chloro-4-phenylcyclophosphamide and 3-chloro-5,6-benzocyclophosphamide, respectively. 31P-NMR spectroscopy was used to study the reactivity of these compounds: the fluoro derivative was reduced to cyclophosphamide on incubation with mouse liver slices, and the reactivity order for sulfhydryl-induced reduction of the 3-halocyclophosphamides was Br approximately equal to Cl much greater than F. Compared with the therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide against L-1210 and P-388 cancers in mice, 3-fluoro- and 3-chlorocyclophosphamide were less active, although the fluoro derivative was more efficacious than the 3-chloro compound. The individual R and S enantiomers of 3-chlorocyclophosphamide, prepared from (S)- and (R)-cyclophosphamide, respectively, showed no significant difference in therapeutic activity in the P-388 test system.
