Synthesis and in vitro anticancer and anti-HIV evaluation of new 2-mercaptobenzenesulfonamides

The reactions of 6-chloro-3-methylthio-1,4,2-benzodithiazine 1,1-dioxide derivatives with appropriate diamines were investigated. Depending on the reaction conditions 2-mercaptobenzenesulfonamide derivatives or their oxidation product disulfides were obtained. All the compounds were tested at the US National Cancer Institute (Bethesda) for their in vitro anticancer and anti-HIV activities. The highest sensibility against leukemia cell lines was found for bis[2-(6-chloro-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)aminosulfonyl-5-chloro-4-(4-R 2 -phenylcarbamoyl)phenyl]disulfides (R 2 =H or Cl). The results of anti-HIV tests displayed moderate activity of N -(pirydo[3,2- d ]imidazol-2-yl)-2-mercaptobenzenesulfonamide.