Antitumor agents. 86. Synthesis and cytotoxicity of alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone-bearing purines

alpha-Methylene-gamma-lactones covalently linked to adenine, hypoxanthine, and guanine were synthesized by using the convenient Reformatsky-type reaction between ethyl alpha-(bromomethyl)acrylate and the proper purine ketones. In vitro cytotoxicity data demonstrated that these compounds were active against L-1210 tissue culture cells with 3 being most potent (ED50 = 0.3 microgram/mL).