N-(cyanomethyl)- and N-(2-methoxy-1-cyanoethyl)anthracyclines and related carboxyl derivatives.

Treatment of doxorubicin with formaldehyde and NaCN afforded the N-(cyanomethyl) derivative as a stable alpha-cyanoamine with but moderate antitumor activity in mice, although it was prototypal to the intensely potent alpha-cyanomorpholine derivative. 2-Methoxyacetaldehyde and NaCN afforded the N-(2-methoxy-1-cyanoethyl) derivative as an open-chain analogue of the cyanomorpholine. This analogue underwent rapid hydrolysis to doxorubicin and appeared to act as a prodrug, giving increased antitumor efficacy although with decreased potency. N-(Carboxymethyl)daunorubicin was a highly water-soluble but inactive analogue, synthesized by N-alkylation with ethyl iodoacetate and saponification. The similar N-alkylation of N-(cyanomethyl) daunorubicin demonstrated the combining of N-alkyl chains having different functional substituents.