Synthesis, structure, and biological evaluation of C-2 sulfonamido pyrimidine nucleosides

The C-2 sulfonamido pyrimidine nucleosides were prepared by opening the 2,2′- or 2,3′-bond in anhydronucleosides under nucleophilic attack of sulfonamide anions. Reaction of the sodium salt of p-toluenesulfonamide or 2-(aminosulfonyl)-N,N-dimethylnicotinamide with 2,2′-anhydro-1-(β-d-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine gave the C-2 sulfonamido derivatives in excellent yields. Ring opening of the less reactive 2,2′-anhydrouridine and 2,3′-anhydrothymidine could be accomplished with DBU/CH3CN activation of p-toluenesulfonamide, giving moderate yields for C-2 sulfonamido derivatives. The action of acetic acid or ZnBr2/CH2Cl2 on 5-methyl-N2-tosyl-1-(2-deoxy-5-O-trityl-β-d-threo-pentofuranosyl)isocytosine led to the cleavage of both the protection group and the nucleoside bond, yielding 5-methyl-N2-tosylisocytosine as the major product. Structures of the prepared C-2 sulfonamido nucleosides were confirmed by the 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and X-ray structural analysis of 4-imino-N2-tosylamino-1-(β-d-arabinofuranosyl)pyrimidine. Both methods confirmed β-configuration and anti-conformation of the 2-sulfonamido nucleosides. The investigated compounds displayed moderate inhibition of tumor cell growth in vitro, as determined by the MTT assay using six different human tumor cell lines.