Antibacterial agents

An antibacterial compound of formula (III):

• X—W-L-V (III)
• wherein:
• X is a lipophilic group attached to the N-terminus of W, is based on carbon atoms and has the following parameters;
• having from 3 to 60 carbon atoms including those of any alicyclic or aromatic rings, if present;
• being straight or branched, and in the case of the latter containing one to three branch points;
• being saturated or unsaturated, in the case of the latter containing one to eight double or triple bonds;
• optionally having up to six heteroatoms, in addition to those, if present, in aromatic rings, if present, independently selected from S, O or N, not contained in an acidic substituent;
• optionally containing one or more aromatic rings, which may be fused and each of which may contain 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms which, if present, are independently selected from N, O or S;
• and
• optionally having from one to six substituents selected from hydroxy, amino, methyl, methylamino and halo;
• W is a basic amino acid or a basic peptide consisting of from 2 to 10 amino acids, provided that W is not or does not contain any amino acids with a sulphur-containing side chain;
• L is a linking group of the formula —NH—(CR1R2)m—Z—(CR3R4)n—NH— wherein:
• Z is oxygen or an optionally substituted moiety selected from the group consisting of —NH—, —CONH—, —NHCO—, —(OCH2CH2)p—, C1-C12alkyl, C2-C12alkenyl, C2-C12alkynyl, C1-C12heteroalkyl, C1-C10heteroalkenyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl, C1-C12heterocycle, C6-C18aryl, and C1-C18heteroaryl;
• and
• R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, optionally substituted C1-C12alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C12alkenyl, optionally substituted C2-C12alkynyl, optionally substituted C1-C12heteroalkyl, optionally substituted C1-C10heteroalkenyl, optionally substituted C3-C12cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C1-C12heterocycle, optionally substituted C6-C18aryl, optionally substituted C1-C18heteroaryl, optionally substituted carboxy, and optionally substituted carboxamide;
• and
• m is an integer selected from the group consisting of 0, 1, 2, and 3;
• and
• n is an integer selected from the group consisting of 0, 1, 2, and 3;
• provided that both of m and n are not 0;
• and
• p is an integer selected from the group consisting of 1-10;
• or
• L is selected from one of the formulae:
• wherein c and d are integers selected from the group consisting of 0, 1, and 2;
• and
• the dotted lines show points of attachment to V and W;
• and
• V is a glycopeptide moiety which inhibits peptidoglycan biosynthesis in bacteria;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, and
• wherein X—W-L- is attached to V via an amide linkage to a free carboxyl group in the glycopeptide moiety.