# Synthesis and In Vitro Pharmacological Evaluation of 5,8-Dideaza Analogs of Methotrexate

## TL;DR

This paper reports the creation and testing of new methotrexate analogs that show strong cancer cell toxicity and are not metabolized into harmful byproducts.

## Contribution

The study introduces a new synthetic route for 5,8-dideazamethotrexate analogs with improved pharmacological properties.

## Key findings

- The new analogs showed strong cytotoxicity in A549 lung cancer cells.
- The compounds effectively inhibited DHFR enzyme activity.
- Unlike methotrexate, the analogs were not metabolized into toxic byproducts.

## Abstract

This study describes the synthesis of a series of dideaza analogs of methotrexate and their preliminary pharmacological and metabolic evaluation. The 5,8-dideazamethotrexate was efficiently obtained in five steps using a new synthetic route. Oxygenated and thiolated analogs of dideazamethotrexate were prepared following the devised pathway. Their cytotoxicity was studied in the A549 lung cancer cell line, as well as their DHFR dihydrofolate reductase inhibition activity and in vitro metabolism. The two new analogs showed strong activity on cancer cells and the enzymatic target. These compounds were not metabolized, a clear advantage over methotrexate, which is rapidly converted to the toxic metabolite 7-hydroxymethotrexate.