AZOLOPHENANTHRIDINES AS ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS

Pyrrolo-, pyrazolo- and triazolo-phenanthridines were synthetized by u sing a Pschorr-type cyclization reaction or an intramolecular cyclizat ion of arylnitrenium ions. By using these synthetic methods several az olo-phenanthridines, variously functionalized either in the azolo ring and in the phenanthridine moiety, were prepared. The title compounds, tested against murine leukemia eel lines, sensible and multidrug resi stant, showed moderate activity with IC50 in the range 5-50 mu M.