Studies on imidazole derivatives and related compounds. I. Synthesis of novel antineoplastic derivatives of 4-carbamoylimidazolium-5-olate

Acylation of 4-carbamoylimidazolium-5-olate ( 2 ) with a variety of acid chlorides produced 4(5)-carbamoyl-1H-imidazol-5-(4)yl acid carboxylates ( 3a-j ). Treatment of esters 3a,c with sodium hydroxide gave imides, 4a,c . Methylation of 3a and 2 with diazomethane gave the N-3 methyl derivative ( 6 ) and a mixture of the N-3, O-dimethyl derivative ( 9 ), the N-1, N-3-dimethyl derivative ( 10 ) and the O-methyl derivative ( 11 ), respectively. 5-Carbamoyl-1-methylimidazolium-4-olate ( 7 ) and its 4-carbamoyl isomer ( 16 ) were prepared from 2-aminopropanediamides 8 and 15 , respectively. Treatment of the imidazolium compound ( 10 ) with aqueous potassium hydroxide gave the recyclized product, 1-methyl-5-methylcarbamoylimidazolium 4-olate ( 18 ). Methyl derivatives 6, 7 , and 9 except 16 demonstrated the complete lack of antitumor activity against Lewis lung carcinoma or sarcoma 180 in mice.