Nitrogen-based camptothecin derivatives

A compound of the formula

• 7
• wherein R is RaRbN—(CH2)m, m is an integer from 1-10, and each of Ra and Rb is independently
• lower alkyl substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, or amino;
• phenyl optionally substituted with from one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, amino, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, formyl, lower alkyl carbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, benzyloxy, optionally substituted piperidino, lower alkoxycarbonyl, and lower alkylcarbonylamino;
• cycloalkyl of 3-7 carbons, optionally substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, amino, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, and lower alkylcarbonylamino;
• lower alkoxy;
• or
• RaRb together with N form a cyclic amine or imide ring;
• R2 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, RC(O)O (R is defined hereinbefore), cyano, nitro, amino, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, formyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, tri lower alkylsilyl, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, lower alkylcarbonylamino, lower alkylcarbonyloxymethyl, substituted vinyl, 1-hydroxy-2-nitroethyl, alkoxycarbonylethyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxymethyl, benzoylmethyl, benzylcarbonyloxymethyl, or mono- or di lower alkoxymethyl.
• R3 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, RC(O)O (R is defined hereinbefore) cyano, nitro, amino, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, formyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, CH2NR7R8 (where each of R7 and R8 is independently H—, alkyl of 1-6 carbons, optionally substituted phenyl, hydroxy lower alkyl, amino lower alkyl, or mono- or dialkylamino lower alkyl, or R7 and R8 taken together with —N— represent a cyclic amino-), CH2R9 (where R9 is lower alkoxy, CN, amino lower alkoxy, mono- or di-lower alkylamino lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, amino lower alkylthio, or mono- or di-lower alkylamino lower alkylthio), or NR10R11 (where each of R10 and R11 is independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl, hydroxy lower alkyl, amino lower alkyl, or mono- or di-lower alkyl, or R10 and R11 taken together with —N— represent a cyclic amino), dialkylamino alkyl, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, or lower alkylcarbonylamino;
• and
• R4 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, RC(O)O (R is defined hereinbefore) cyano, nitro, amino, amino lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, formyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyloxy, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, or lower alkylcarbonylamino, or R4 together with R5 is methylenedioxy;
• R5 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, RC(O)O (R is defined hereinbefore) cyano, nitro, amino, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, formyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, or lower alkylcarbonylamino;
• R6 is hydrogen, halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, RC(O)O (R is defined hereinbefore) cyano, nitro, amino, halogenated lower alkyl, halogenated lower alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, formyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylcarbonyloxy, or lower alkylcarbonylamino;