Pyrazolo-triazoles as light activable DNA cleaving agents

In view of the continuous interest in new DNA cleaving compounds, both for the development of new therapeutic agents acid for the possible use as reag ents in nucleic acids research, a few pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,2,3]triazole deriva tives have been obtained and investigated for their antiproliferative activ ity and capability to cleave DNA, after light-activation. A possible in sit u activation, i.e. in neoplastic tissues, of less cytotoxic derivatives, ma y lead to potential antitumor compounds endowed with high therapeutic index es. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.