Synthesis and antifolate activity of new pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine and thieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase

Three previously undescribed dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors, N^α‐4‐N‐(2,4‐diaminopyrrolo2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐5‐yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]‐N^δ‐hemiphthaloyl‐L‐ornithine (7) , N^α‐ 4‐ N‐(2,4‐diaminothieno2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐5‐yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]‐ N^δ‐hemiphthaloyl‐L‐ornithine (8) , and N‐4‐N‐(2,4‐diaminothieno2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐5‐yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]‐L‐glutamic acid (12) , were synthesized and their antifolate activity was assessed. The ability of 7 and 8 to bind to DHFR and inhibit the growth of CCRF‐CEM human lymphoblastic leukemia cells in culture were dramatically reduced in comparison with the corresponding pteridine analogue, N^α‐(4‐amino‐4‐deoxypteroyl)‐N^δ‐hemiphmaloyl‐L‐ornithine ( 1 , PT523). In a similar manner, the antifolate activity of 12 was markedly reduced in comparison with that of the corresponding glutamate analogue, aminopterin ( 5 , AMT). In contrast, 7, 8 , and 12 all displayed excellent affinity for the reduced folate carrier (RFC) of CCRF‐CEM cells as measured by a standard competitive influx assay. Lack of a consistent correlation between the results of the growth inhibition assays and those of the DHFR and RFC binding assays results suggest that additional factors also play a role in the antifolate activity of these compounds.