Synthesis and Quartemization of 6-(Substitutedamino)-Purines with Antitumor Activity Screening

Reaction of c-chloro-9-benzyl-8-(methylthio)purine 3 with primary amines afforoded, the comesponding 6-(substitutedamino)purines 4a-g. The latter products when methylated with methyl iodide yielded smoothly $N^3$-methyl purinium iodide salts 5a-f rather than the probable $N^1\;and\;N^7$-derivatives. 9-Benzyl-3-methyl-6-(methylmino)-8-(methylthio)purine 8 was obtained upon treating the purinium iodide 5a with alkali. Most of the synthesized compounds were screened for their antitumor activity.