Quinoxaline chemistry. Part 8. 2-[Anilino]-3-[carboxy]-6(7)-substituted quinoxalines as non classical antifolate agents. Synthesis and evaluation of in vitro anticancer, anti-HIV and antifungal activity.

Thirty quinoxalines bearing a substituted anilino group on position 2, a carboethoxy or carboxy group on position 3 and a trifluoromethyl group on position 6 or 7 of the heterocycle were prepared in order to evaluate in vitro anticancer activity. Preliminary screening performed at NCI showed that most derivatives exhibited a moderate to strong growth inhibition activity on various tumor panel cell lines between 10(-5) and 10(-4) molar concentrations. Interesting selectivities were also recorded between 10(-8) and 10(-6) M for a few compounds. One single compound exhibited good activity against Candida albicans.