A novel nitro-substituted seco-CI: Application as a reductively activated adept prodrug

An alternative synthesis of seco-Cl alkylating agents bearing a nitrogen substituent at C-6 is reported. The nitro compound 3 prepared by this route exhibits a 400-fold increase in cytotoxicity against UV4 cells in the presence of a nitroreductase enzyme from Escherichia coli B, suggesting it as a potential prodrug for use in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy.