| abstract |
A vitamin D analogue of formula I wherein X is hydrogen or hydroxy or protected hydroxy; R.sup.1.n. and R.sup.2.n. represents hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, or, when taken together with the carbon atom bearing the group X, may be R.sup.1.n. and R.sup.2.n. form C.sub.3.n.-C.sub.5.n. a carbocyclic ring; Q is C.sub.3.n.-C.sub.6.n. hydrocarbylene wherein hydrocarbylene is a bivalent residue obtained after the removal of 2 hydrogen atoms from a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon in which one of any CH.sub.2.n. groups can optionally be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group, such that the carbon atom (C-22) directly bonded to C-20 is sp.sup.2.n. or sp.sup.3.n. a hybridized carbon atom, i.e. is bound to 2 or 3 other atoms; and wherein another of CH.sub.2.n. The groups may be replaced by phenylene, and wherein Q may be optionally substituted with one or more hydroxy or C 1-6 -C 1-6 -alkoxy groups. These analogs exhibit exceptionally high immunosuppressive effects along with high tumor cell proliferation inhibitory activities. Processes and intermediates for its preparation, its use in the manufacture of medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions containing it. |