Nitrogen-sulfur ligands as opiate receptor drug mimics

Abstract

The present invention relates particularly to novel aminothiol ligands that are suitable for complexing with a radionuclide, such as Tc, Re, or Ga, and are useful as general imaging agents for diagnostic purposes. The ligands have the general formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## wherein for formula I, R.sup.1 -R.sup.4, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.9 -R.sup.14 can each be one of H, alkyl, aryl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, etc.; R.sup.5 and R.sup.8 are suitable sulfur protecting groups; m and n are 1-3; B can be one of C(O)CHR.sup.6 CHR.sup.7 SR.sup.8, CHR.sup.9 CHR.sup.10 C(O)NHR.sup.11, or C(O)CHR.sup.12 CHR.sup.13 NHR.sup.14 ; and wherein for formula II, R.sup.15 -R.sup.18, R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 are defined in the same manner as R.sup.1 above; D and E are either C(O) or CHR.sup.17 ; F is either (CH.sub.2).sub.d NR.sup.18 (CH.sub.2).sub.e SR.sup.19 or CHNR.sup.20 R.sup.21 (CH.sub.2).sub.f SR.sup.22 ; R.sup.19 and R.sup.22 are defined in the same manner as R.sup.5 above; d, e and f are 1-3.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.