Cascade polymer complexes, process for their production and pharamceutical agents containing said complexes

A cascade polymer complex containing

• a) a complexing ligand of formula I
• A-{X-›Y-(Z-<W-K.sub.W >.sub.Z).sub.4 !.sub.x }.sub.a (I),
• in which
• A stands for a nitrogen-containing cascade nucleus of base multiplicity a,
• X and Y independently of one another, stand for a direct bond or a cascade reproduction unit of reproduction multiplicity x or y,
• Z and W, independently of one another, stand for a cascade reproduction unit of reproduction multiplicity z or w,
• K stands for the radical of a complexing agent,
• a stands for a number from 2 to 12,
• x, y, z and w, independently of one another, stand for a number 1 to 4, and
• terminal amino groups are optionally acylated, provided that at least two reproduction units are different and that
• 16.ltoreq.a.multidot.x.multidot.y.multidot.z.multidot.w.ltoreq.64,
• holds true for the product of the multiplicities,
• b) at least 16 ions of an element of atomic numbers 20 to 29, 39, 42, 44 or 57-83 and,
• c) optionally cations of inorganic and/or organic bases, amino acids or amino acid amides,
• wherein at least one of cascade reproduction units X, Y, Z and W, independently of one another, is selected from the group consisting of
• E, ##STR23## in which U.sup.1 stands for Q.sup.1 or E,
• U.sup.2 stands for Q.sup.2 or E with
• E meaning the group ##STR24## in which o stands for a number from 1 to 6,
• Q.sup.1 stands for a hydrogen atom or Q.sup.2,
• Q.sup.2 stands for a direct bond,
• U.sup.3 stands for a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylene chain which optionally is interrupted by 1 to 10 oxygen atoms, 1 to 2 --N(CO).sub.q --R.sup.2 radicals, 1 to 2 phenylene radicals, 1 to 2 phenylenoxy radicals or combinations thereof, and optionally is substituted by 1 to 2 oxo, thioxo, carboxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkylcarboxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy, hydroxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl groups, in which
• q stands for number 0 or 1 and
• R.sup.2 stands for a hydrogen atom, a methyl or an ethyl radical, which optionally is substituted with 1-2 hydroxy or 1 carboxy group(s),
• L stands for a hydrogen atom or the group ##STR25## V stands for methine group ##STR26## in which case U.sup.4 means a direct bond or group M and U.sup.5 has one of the meanings of U.sup.3
• or
• V stands for group ##STR27## in which case U.sup.4 and U.sup.5 are identical and mean the direct bond or group M where M stands for a C.sub.1-10 -alkylene chain which optionally is interrupted by 1 to 3 oxygen atoms and optionally is substituted with 1 to 2 oxo groups, and
• wherein complexing agent radical K bound to the terminal nitrogen atoms of the last generation of reproduction unit W stand for a radical of general formula IA or IB ##STR28## in which R.sup.1 independently of one another, stand for a hydrogen atom or a metal ion equivalent of atomic numbers 20-29, 39, 42-44 or 57-83,
• R.sup.2 stands for a hydrogen atom, a methyl or an ethyl radical which optionally is substituted with 1-2 hydroxy or 1 carboxy group(s),
• R.sup.3 stands for a ##STR29## R.sup.4 stands for a straight-chain, branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 alkyl chain, which optionally is interrupted by 1-10 oxygen atoms, 1 phenylene group, 1 phenylenoxy group and optionally substituted by 1-5 hydroxy, 1-3 carboxy, 1-phenyl group(s),
• R.sup.5 stands for a hydrogen atom or for R.sup.4,
• U.sup.6 stands for a straight-chain, branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylene group optionally containing 1-5 imino, 1-3 phenylene, 1-3 phenylenoxy, 1-3 phenylenimino, 1-5 amide, 1-2 hydrazide, 1-5 carbonyl, 1-5 ethylenoxy, 1 urea, 1 thiourea, 1-2 carboxyalkylimino, 1-2 ester groups, or 1-10 oxygen, 1-5 sulfur or 1-5 nitrogen atom(s) and/or optionally substituted by 1-5 hydroxy, 1-2 mercapto, 1-5 oxo, 1-5 thioxo, 1-3 carboxy, 1-5 carboxyalkyl, 1-5 ester, ›and/or! 1-3 amino group(s) or combinations thereof, and the phenylene groups that are optionally contained can be substituted by 1-2 carboxy, 1-2 sulfo or 1-2 hydroxy groups,
• T stands for a --CO-.alpha., --NHCO-.alpha. or --NHCS-.alpha. group, and
• .alpha. stands for the bonding site to the terminal nitrogen atoms of the last generation, of reproduction unit W.