Chemical aspects of mode of action of imexon and related cyanoaziridines were studied. These compounds do not alkylate DNA nor react with the ε-amino groups of l-lysine, despite the presence of an aziridine ring. They do react readily with biologically important sulfhydryl compounds to give products derived from either aziridine ring opening, interaction with the cyano group of cyanoaziridines, or opening of the iminopyrrolidone ring of imexon. The ...
