Potential antitumor agents. III. Synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-e]pyrrolo[3,4-g]indolizine and 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-e]indolizine derivatives

The preparation of 5-dimethylaminoethyl-4,6-dioxo-1-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrazolo3,4-e]pyrrolo-3,4-g]indolizine, a derivative of the still unknown tetracyclic parent ring pyrazolo3,4-e]pyrrolo3,4-g]indolizine, is reported starting from 1-phenyl-5-(1-pyrryl)pyrazole-4-acetonitrile by PPA catalyzed double cyclization of the related oxalylcyanomethyl derivative and subsequent alkylation. The synthesis of 4,5-bis(isopro-pylaminocarbonyloxymethyl) and 4,5-bis-(cyclohexylaminocarbonyloxymethyl) derivatives of 1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo3,4-e]indolizine is also described. The new tricyclic and tetracyclic derivatives were tested as potential antitumor agents.