Targeted cytotoxic anthracycline analogs

Abstract

This invention is in the field of the chemistry of targeting anticancer anthracycline derivatives. More particularly, it concerns doxorubicin (DOX) or its daunosamine modified derivatives (DM-DOX) linked covalently to analogs of peptide hormones such as LH-RH, bombesin and somatostatin. These covalent conjugates are targeted to various tumors bearing receptors for the peptide hormone analogs. The compounds of this invention are represented by General Formula Q14—O—R—P wherein Q has the general formula wherein: Q14 signifies a Q moiety with a side chain at the 14 position, R— is H or —C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)— and n=0-7, R′ is NH2 or an aromatic, saturated or partially saturated 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic compounds having at least one ring nitrogen and optionally having a butadiene moiety bonded to adjacent carbon atoms of said ring to form a bicyclic system; P is H or a peptide moiety, suitably an LHRH, somatostatin or bombesin analogs. Nevertheless where R′ is NH2 then R and P are other than H. When R and P are H, then R′ is other than NH2. A novel synthetic reaction has been discovered in the course of this work to form partially saturated heterocyclic moieties from vicinal and disjunct i.e., α, β or α, γ hydroxy primary amines.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.