Prodrug compositions and methods for using the same in treating cancer and malaria

A prodrug having the formula

• wherein,
• X is —O—;
• Z1 together with L1 is a drug;
• L1 is —N(R6)—, —O— or —OC(O)—;
• L2 is a bond, substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylene, —C(O)N(R7)— or —N(R7)—C(O)—;
• L3 is —OC(O)— or a bond, with the proviso that if L1 is —OC(O)—, then L3 is a bond;
• R1a and R1b are independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;
• R2 is hydrogen or an electron withdrawing moiety;
• R3 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;
• R4 and R5 are joined together to form a ring moiety having at least 6 atoms, said ring moiety selected from substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl;
• R6 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;
• and
• R7 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;
• wherein said drug is an anti-malarial drug or anti-cancer drug capable of treating malaria or cancer that is associated with a cell or organism having increased FeII levels compared to FeII levels in mammalian plasma.