31P NMR and chloride ion kinetics of alkylating monoester phosphoramidates

31P NMR spectroscopy was used to study the solvolysis kinetics of a novel series of alkylating monoester phosphoramidates (4a-d) under model physiologic conditions. Halide ion kinetics were used to determine the rate of aziridinium ion formation. The solvolysis rates showed the expected dependence upon substitution at the reactive nitrogen; comparison of 4a with phosphoramide mustard (1a) indicated that replacement of the amino group by alkoxy decreased the solvolysis rate by approximately 10-fold. The rate of conversion of starting compound (4a-d) to solvolysis product was essentially equal to the rate of halide ion release, suggesting that the aziridinium ion is a short-lived intermediate. 1H NMR and 31P NMR kinetics experiments performed in the absence and presence of trapping agent (dimethyldithiocarbamate) confirmed that the aziridinium ion was too short-lived to be observed via NMR. These compounds were also tested for cytotoxicity against L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma cells in vitro; the monoalkylators 4c and 4d showed no activity, 4a was weakly cytotoxic, and 4b was comparable in activity to phosphoramide mustard.