2-Nitroimidazol-5-ylmethyl as a potential bioreductively activated prodrug system: reductively triggered release of the parp inhibitor 5-bromoisoquinolinone

5-Chloromethyl-1-methyl-2-nitroimidazole reacted efficiently with the anion derived from 5-bromo-isoquinolin-1-one to give 5-bromo-2-((1-methyl-2-nitroimidazol-5-yl)methyl)isoquinolin-1-one. Biomimetic reduction effected release of the 5-bromoisoquinolin-1-one. The 2-nitroimidazol-5-ylmethyl unit thus has potential for development as a general prodrug system for selective drug delivery to hypoxic tissues.