1. Classsify each of the following research projects as basic research or applied research. Justify your answer.
a. The development of various nitrogen mustards, one of which was cyclophosphamide.
b. The testing of cyclophosphamide to test its potency as a chemotherapeutic agent.
c. A study of the mechanism of action of cyclophosphamide.
d. A study of the side effects of cyclophosphamide.
e. Why are some of these (a-d) difficult to assign as either basic or applied research?
2. For every molecule of PM that is produced, one molecule of acrolein is formed. If acrolein is not used to cure cancer, what might happen to the acrolein? Aside from the side effects of PM itself, discussed above, could acrolein be responsible for some of the other side effects observed in patients taking cyclophosphamide? Give an explanation for your answer.
3. What are the leaving groups in the substitution reaction of PM with the N-7 of guanine?