Active antitumor components in a decomposed amino sugar I: Effect of sugar structure on activity

While pure methyl 5-(2-chloroethylamino)-5-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-ribofuranoside hydrochloride has no L-1210 leukemia activity, a decomposed sample was found to be very active. One of several approaches taken to determine the nature of the active component involved a study of how sugar structure affects antitumor activity. A number of aminoribose derivatives were prepared and tested against the murine L-1210 and P-388 leukemia and the B-16 melanoma tumor systems. Compounds were tested as pure materials and as synthetically degraded mixtures. Both the beta-haloethyl group and a secondary amine were required for highest activity.