Illudin analogs useful as antitumor agents

A compound of claim I wherein n is 1, the bond represented by -- is absent, X is S;

• Y is CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ;
• R.sub.3 is CH.sub.3 ;
• R.sub.4 is S, CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ;
• R.sub.6 is CH.sub.3 and R.sub.7 is OH.

A compound of the formula ##STR7## where R.sub.1 is (CH.sub.2).sub.n (Y);

• where n is 0 to 4;
• and
• Y is CHO, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, COOH, --(C.sub.2 -C.sub.4)alkenyl-CHO, --CH(O(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl).sub.2, cyclo(C.sub.3 -C.sub.6)alkyl or 5-membered heteroaryl comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from N, S, or non-peroxide O, where the cycloalkyl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted with 1-2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, CHO, OH or halo;
• R.sub.3 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or H;
• R.sub.4 is S, CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or H;
• R.sub.5 is H, OH;
• R.sub.6 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or absent;
• R.sub.7 is OH;
• R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 together are ethylenedioxy;
• R.sub.8 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl optionally substituted with OH or halo;
• and
• the bond represented by -- is present or absent;
• or
• a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A compound of the formula ##STR8## where R.sub.1 is (CH.sub.2).sub.n (Y),

• where n is 2 to 4;
• Y is OH or OAc;
• and
• R.sub.2 is absent;
• or
• R.sub.1 --C--C--R.sub.2 together comprise a 5-7 membered cyclic ring, optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms selected from N, S, or non-peroxide O, and optionally substituted with (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, OH or halo;
• R.sub.3 is H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl;
• R.sub.4 is H or CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl;
• R.sub.5 is H, OH;
• R.sub.6 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or absent;
• R.sub.7 is OH;
• or
• R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 together are ethylenedioxy;
• and
• the bonds represented by -- are individually present or absent;
• or
• a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A compound of the formula ##STR9## where R.sub.1 is H;

• R.sub.3 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or H;
• R.sub.4 is CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl or H;
• R.sub.5 is H, OH;
• R.sub.6 is H or absent;
• R.sub.7 is OH;
• or
• R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 together are ethylenedioxy;
• and
• the bond represented by -- is present or absent;
• or
• a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A compound of the formula (II):

• ##STR10## where R.sub.1 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl-Z where Z is OH or halo, or --S--(C.sub.5 -C.sub.12)aryl wherein aryl is optionally substituted with OH, halo or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl;
• R.sub.3 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl;
• and
• R.sub.4 is --S--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOH wherein n is 1-4;
• or --S--(C.sub.5 -C.sub.12)aryl wherein aryl is optionally substituted with OH, halo or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl;
• or
• a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A compound of the formula (III):

• ##STR11## where L is a linker covalently attaching compounds A and B via the -, 5- or 7- position of one compound and the 3- or 7-position of the other compound;
• and
• R.sub.1 and R'.sub.1 are independently --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Z where n is 1-4, and Z is halo or OH;
• or absent.

A compound of the formula (III):

• ##STR12## where L is --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, where m and n are independently 1-4, or --CH.sub.2 --S --CH.sub.2 C(O)--O--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O--C(O)CH.sub.2 --S--CH.sub.2 --, covalently attaching compounds A and B via the 5-positions;
• and
• R.sub.1 and R'.sub.1 are independently --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Z where n is 1-4, and Z is halo or OH;
• or absent.