Synthesis of N-Methylene-N,N-Bis(2-Chloroethyl) Ammonium Hexachlorostannate

Abstract

Because of the exceptional antineoplastic activity exhibited by methylene-diammonium salt 1 against a variety of key experimental tumor systems, this substance is being prepared for clinical trial² by the National Cancer Institute. Since the analogous counterpart 2 might also display potentially important anticancer properties, as well as function as a useful synthon for Mannich-type condensations^3,4 a new and convenient synthetic route to this very reactive iminium cation was developed.