Method for the production of maytansinoids

Abstract

Maytansinoid compounds are produced by contacting in the presence of a carbodiimide the compound maytansinol ##STR1## with an acid of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is lower alkyl, to yield the desired maytansinoids HAVING THE RESULTANT FORMULA: ##STR3## wherein R is lower alkyl. The maytansinoids (I) are both antifungal agents and also antitumor agents. The D-form (with respect to assymetry at the 2'-position) of the maytansinoids (I) represents a new class of compounds having antifungal and antitumor properties.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.