Synthesis of nitrosourea derivatives of sucrose as central nervous system anticancer agents

Nitrosourea derivatives of sucrose have been synthesized for the purpose of obtaining anticancer agents with activity against brain cancer. Two such compounds, 6,6'-dideoxy-6,6'-di(3-methyl-3-nitrosoureido) sucrose (13) and 1', 6,6'-trideoxy-1',6,6-tri(3-methyl-3-nitrosoureido) sucrose (14), and their respective acetylated derivatives 15 and 16 have been prepared from sucrose. Compounds 13 and 14 have demonstrated antitumor activity against both L1210 leukemia and ependymoblastoma brain tumor in mice.