Differences in antischistosomal and mutagenic properties between an isothiocyano- and an isocyanonitrodiphenylamine

While 4-isothiocyano-4'-nitrodiphenylamine has high schistosomicidal activity in vivo and is devoid of mutagenic properties in vitro, the reverse is true for the isocyano analogue of this compound; i.e., replacement of the sulfur by oxygen results in a compound that has no demonstrable antischistosomal effects and exhibits significant mutagenic activity.