6-substituted 1-methylquinolinium-2-dithioacetic acid zwitterions: antileukemia activity.

Condensation of the anhydro bases derived from 6-substituted 1-methylquinaldinium iodides with carbon disulfide provided the 2-dithioacetic acid zwitterions. Since 1.6-dimethylquinolinium-2-dithioacetic acid zwitterion previously showed appreciable activity against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice, a series of analogs with other 6-substituents was synthesized to assess the importance of substitution in this position. Both electron-donating and electron-attracting 6-substituents gave compounds with antileukemia activity. The 6-unsubstituted analog had only marginal activity.