Nitro and amino derivatives of lucanthone as antitumor agents.

A group of nitro and amino derivatives of lucanthone was prepared and tested for antitumor activity. Reaction of 1-chloro-4-methyl-7-nitrothioxanthenone and N,N-diethylethylenediamine gave the 7-amino analogue (11) directly, accompanied by 7-amino-1-chloro-4-methylthioxanthenone. The antitumor activity of 11 was inferior to that of lucanthone and 7-hydroxylucanthone. The most active compound in the series was the nitro compound 1. In the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia screen it showed a T/C = 178 at 200 mg/kg.