4,5-Deoxymaytansinoids, their use and pharmaceutical compositions thereof

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR7## wherein X is hydrogen, C.sub.1-8 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, carboxyl, C.sub.2-5 alkoxycarbonyl, phenoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, benzyloxy, C.sub.1-4 alkylthio, benzylthio, phenylthio, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulfinyl, benzylsulfinyl, phenylsulfinyl, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulfonyl, benzylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, C.sub.1-5 alkanoyloxy, benzoyloxy, phenylacetyloxy, cyano, di(C.sub.1-4 alkyl)amino, oxo, (C.sub.1-4)-1-alkylidene, phenyl, .alpha.- or .beta.-naphthyl, vinyl, ethynyl, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, triazolidinyl, furyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuryl, thienyl, morpholino, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxiranyl, dioxolanyl or/and dithiolanyl,
• or X is acyl derived from a C.sub.1-20 carboxylic acid of the formula:
• --COR.sup.1
• wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, C.sub.2-10 alkenyl, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, any of said groups being unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.2-4 alkanoyl, C.sub.2-4 alkanoyloxy, C.sub.2-4 alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, amino, mono(C.sub.1-4 alkyl)amino, di(C.sub.1-4 alkyl)amino, C.sub.1-4 alkylthio, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1-4 alkanesulfonyl, oxo, thioxo or C.sub.1-4 alkanoylamino, and said cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl and naphthyl being attached, directly or through C.sub.1-4 alkylene, to the carbonyl radical in the acyl group,
• or X is of the formula:
• ##STR8## wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl, phenyl or naphthyl,
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl, phenyl or naphthyl, and
• R.sup.4 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, C.sub.2-10 alkenyl, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl, phenyl or naphthyl, any of said groups in R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 being unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.2-4 alkanoyl, C.sub.2-4 alkanoyloxy, C.sub.2-4 alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, amino, mono(C.sub.1-4 alkyl) amino, di(C.sub.1-4 alkyl) amino, C.sub.1-4 alkylthio, C.sub.1-4 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1-4 alkanesulfonyl, oxo, thioxo or C.sub.1-4 alkanoylamino, and said cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl and naphthyl in R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 being attached, directly or through C.sub.1-4 alkylene, to the .alpha.-carbon atom, N-atom or the carbonyl group on the N-atom,
• or wherein X is acyl derived from an organic sulfonic acid of the formula:
• --SO.sub.2 R.sup.5
• wherein
• R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-4 alkyl or C.sub.7-9 aralkyl or acyl derived from carbamic acid of the formula:
• --CONR.sup.6 R.sup.7
• wherein
• R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are the same or different and each is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, benzyl, phenethyl, phenyl or .alpha.- or .beta.-naphthyl;
• Y is hydrogen or chlorine;
• and
• R is hydrogen or acyl derived from C.sub.1-20 carboxylic acid of the formula:
• --COR.sup.1
• wherein R.sup.1 is the same as defined above, or R is of the formula:
• ##STR9## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same as defined above.