Synthesis of 9,10-anthraquinone monoalkilamino alkilhydrazones as potential antitumor drugs

In the constant search for new compounds endowed with antitumor activity we have synthesized a series of anthraquinone hydrazones, which can be seen either as opened-cycle modified anthrapyrazoles or as chromophore-modified anthracenediones. Seven 9,10-anthraquinone monoalkylaminoalkylhydrazones (3c-i) were synthesized from 10,10-dibromoanthrone (4) and a suitable N-alkylhydrazine. The hydrazones were converted into hydrochlorides and tested for their cytotoxic activity against L1210 murineleukemia cells. Two of them possess marginal activity in vitro.