Synthesis and antitumor activity of some new phthalimide analogues

The reactive intermediate 1-(chloroalkyl)-1-aza-2-azoniaallene salts 3, whi ch were prepared by treatment of the alpha,alpha'-dichloroazo derivatives 2 with SbCl5, underwent cycloaddition with the N-cyanoalkyl phthalimide comp ounds 4 and afforded the 1,2,4-triazolium salts 5. These salts rearranged s pontaneously to the protonated 1,2,4-triazoles 6, followed by hydrolysis in situ to the 1,2,4-triazolo-alkyl-phthalimide compounds 7. The newly synthe sized compounds were then evaluated for their antitumor activity in three c ell lines.