Synthesis of new amides of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpiperazine series

New carboxylic acid amides containing an N-methylpiperazine fragment were synthesized by reactions of 1-methylpiperazine or 3- and 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)aniline with 4-chlorobenzoyl chloride and of 4-methyl-3-nitroaniline with 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)benzoyl chloride or benzotriazol-1-yl 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)benzoate. 4-Chloro-N-4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]benzamide reacted with imidazole, quinolin-5-amine, and 2-methylquinolin-5-amine to give substituted 4-amino-N-4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]benzamides. 4-Methyl-3-nitrophenyl-4-methylpiperazin-1-yl-substituted benzamides were reduced with hydrazine hydrate over Raney nickel to obtain N-(3-amino-4-methylphenyl)-4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)benzamide as key intermediate in the synthesis of antileukemic agent imatinib and its isomer with alternative position of the amide group, 4-(3-amino-4-methylphenylamino)methyl]phenyl-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methanone.