Synthesis, Biological, and Antitumor Activity of a Highly Potent 6-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine Thienoyl Antifolate Inhibitor with Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter and Folate Receptor Selectivity over the Reduced Folate Carrier That Inhibits β-Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Formyltransferase

2-Amino-4-oxo-6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with a thienoyl side chain (compounds 1-3, respectively) were synthesized for comparison with compound 4, the previous lead compound of this series. Conversion of hydroxyl acetylenthiophene carboxylic esters to thiophenyl-alpha-bromomethylketones and condensation with 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine afforded the 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds of type 18 and 19. Coupling with L-glutamate diethyl ester, followed by saponification, afforded 1-3. Compound 3 selectively inhibited the proliferation of cells expressing folate receptors (FRs) alpha or beta, or the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), including KB and IGROV1 human tumor cells, much more potently than 4. Compound 3 was more inhibitory than 4 toward beta-glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase). Both 3 and 4 depleted cellular ATP pools. In SCID mice with IGROV1 tumors, 3 was more efficacious than 4. Collectively, our results show potent antitumor activity for 3 in vitro and in vivo, associated with its selective membrane transport by FRs and PCFT over RFC and inhibition of GARFTase, clearly establishing the 3-atom bridge as superior to the 1-, 2-, and 4-atom bridge lengths for the activity of this series.