Synthesis and evaluation of N,N'-bis(arylsulfonyl)hydrazines as antineoplastic agents

Several N,N'-bis(arylsulfonyl)hydrazines, with the potential to function as biological methylating agents, were synthesized and evaluated for antineoplastic activity against the L1210 leukemia and other transplanted rodent tumors. In general, the N-methyl-N,N'-bis(arylsulfonyl)hydrazines that possess the capacity to generate an alkylating species under physiological conditions showed significant antineoplastic activity, while N,N'-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-hydrazine and N-methyl-N,N'-dibenzoylhydrazine were inactive.