| abstract |
Distamycin A derivatives of formula <IMAGE> (I) <IMAGE> wherein R is (a)-NHR3, wherein R3 is (a')-CON(NO)R4, in which R4 is C1-C4 alkyl either unsubstituted or substituted by halogen; or (b') -CO(CH2)m-R5, in which R5 is halogen, oxiranyl, methyloxiranyl, aziridinyl, a group <IMAGE> or a group <IMAGE> and m is zero or an integer of 1 to 4; or (b) <IMAGE> wherein either R6 and R7 are the same and are each oxiranemethyl, aziridinemethyl, or C2-C4 alkyl 2-substituted by halogen or by a group -OSO2R8, wherein R8 is C1 -C4 alkyl or phenyl, or one of R6 and R7 is hydrogen and the other is as defined above; and each group R1 is, independently, hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful as antiviral or antitumor agents. |