Lithiation directed by amino alkoxides. Application to the synthesis of new disubstituted dihydrodipyridopyrazines.

The synthesis of new 4,6-disubstituted dihydrodipyridopyrazines starting from corresponding carboxaldehydes via lithiation directed by alpha-amino alkoxides is described. The N,N,N'-trimethylethylenediamine was used as amine component for in situ formation of the alpha-amino alkoxides. After optimization, this reaction allowed easy access to new interesting starting materials for further applications by palladium-catalyzed reactions.

Synthesis of mono- and bisdihydrodipyridopyrazines and assessment of their DNA binding and cytotoxic properties.

Aminoalkyl-substituted monomeric and dimeric dihydrodipyridopyrazines have been synthesized and evaluated as antitumor agents. Potent cytotoxic compounds were identified in both series. Biochemical and biophysical studies indicated that all these compounds strongly stabilized the duplex structure of DNA and some of them elicited a selectivity for GC-rich sequences.