Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis of N-morpholylthiocarbonylsulfenylamino aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides and their interaction with isozymes I, II and IV

Several aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides possessing free amino, imino or hydrazino moieties were transformed into the corresponding N-morpholylthioc arbonylsulfenyl derivatives, by reaction with N-morpholyldithiocarbamate in the presence of oxidizing agents (NaClO or iodine). These compounds showed nanomolar inhibition against three CA isozymes, and interesting in vitro t umor cell growth inhibitory properties, against several leukemia, non-small cell lung, ovarian, melanoma, colon: CNS, renal, prostate and breast cance r cell lines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.