GB2137202A - Novel Pharmaceutical Compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Compounds of the following formula R-O-CO-X-CO-Z wherein R is a dimeric indole-dihydroindole radical derived from a 4-acetoxy or 4-hydroxy antineoplastic dimer indoledihydroindole alkaloid, wherein Z is OR wherein R is the same or different, OH, OC1-3alkyl, NH2, NHNH2, an acylating group (Z<1>) or a carboxy protecting group (Z<2>), and wherein X is C1-4 straight chain alkylene, C2-8branched alkylene, C2-4alkenylene, C3-4alkynylene, C3-6cycloalkylene, phenylene, C1-4hydroxy substituted C1-4alkylene or a direct bond; and acid addition salts thereof are novel. The compounds in which Z is OR, OH, OC1-3alkyl, NH2 or NHNH2 have utility as antitumor compounds and the remaining compounds are useful as intermediates in further synthesis.

Description

SPECIFICATION Novel Pharmaceutical Compounds This invention relates to bifunctional ester derivatives of 4-desacetyl indole-dihydroindole alkaloids.

The alkaloids obtainable from Vinca rosea represent one of the most productive areas of chemistry for drugs which adversely affect the growth of experimental malignancies in mammals.

Initially, only some of the alkaloids, obtainable from the leaves of the plant by extraction and purifiable by chromatography, were found to be active. These active antineoplastic alkaloids obtained directly from the leaves of the vinca plants include VLB (vinblastine, vincaleucoblastine), vincristine (leurocristine), leurosine (vinleurosine), leurosidine (vinrosidine), leuroformine (formylleurosine) and deoxy VLB "A" and "B" (4'-deoxy VLB and 4'-deoxyleurosidine).

Chemical modification of the Vinca alkaloids started slowly for several reasons. In the first place, the molecular structures involved are extremely complex, and chemists were slow to find reactions which modified one specific functional group of the molecule without affecting other groups. Secondly, dimeric alkaloids lacking desirable chemotherapeutic properties had been recovered or produced from Vinca rosea extracts, and a determination of their structures had led to the conclusion that these inactive compounds were closely related structurally to and even isomeric with one or more of the active alkaloids. Thus, it appeared that small chemical changes in the known anticancer aikaloids could have a profound effect on antineoplastic activity.

Because of these restrictions, modification of the indole-dihydroindole alkaloids obtained from Vinca rosea has centered around only three positions on the molecule: C-3, C-4' and C-4. Considering C-3 modification first, one of the more recent, and more successful, modifications of the basic indoledihydroindole structure has been the preparation of C-3 carboxamide derivatives, most of which turned out to be active anti-tumor agents. [See US Patent 4,166,810, and Conrad et al. J. Med. Chem.

22, 391 (1979)1. 4-Desacetyl VLB 3-carboxamide (vindesine) is currently being marketed in several European countries as an oncolytic agent. It is said to be effective in treating some vincristine-resistant leukemias in addition to many common neoplasms including germ-cell tumors. Reaction of the 3hydroxy and 3-ester functions with an isocyanate has produced the corresponding oxazolidinedione derivatives, one of which, the N-chloroethyl derivative (vinzolidine) is currently undergoing a clinical trial. The oxazolidinedione derivatives are disclosed in Miller and Gutowski, (United States Patent RE 30,560, reissued March 31,1981).

A second position on the molecule which has been modified is C-4'. A majority of these modifications have been based on the 3',4'-anhydro derivative, makeable both by coupling vindoline and catharanthine via a modified Polonovski reaction (Potier et al. J. C. S. Chem. Comm., 670, (1975)) and by dehydrating VLB or leurosidine (Gutowski and Miller, United States Patent 4,029,663). The dehydration reaction produces two exo-double bond isomers in addition to the delta 3',4'-anhydro derivative. Functionalization of any one of these double bonds to form epoxides, diols, etc. has been the basis of chemical modifications at C-4'.

The third position of the indole-dihydroindole which has been modified successfully is C-4. In the first place, hydrolysis of the acetoxy group, present in all the above vinca alkaloid, yields active antineoplastic 4-desacetyl derivatives. (Vindesine, a C-3 carboxamide, is a 4-desacetyl derivative).

Secondly, Hargrove (United States Patents 3,387,001 and 3,392,173) prepared novel 4-acyl derivatives of 4-desacetyl VLB, 4-desacetyl vincristine, etc. Among these new derivatives was 4chloroacetyl VLB, which compound could be reacted with amines, for example, dimethylamine, to yield a potent anticancer drug, vinglycinate, N,N-di-methyl 4-glycinyl VLB. In a different modification, Write and Neuss (United States Patent 4,122,082) oxidized the 4-hydroxyl of 4-desacetyl VLB to a 4-keto compound, and Thompson (United States Patent 4,195,022) reduced this ketone to the 4-epihydroxy (4a-hydroxy) derivative, also a compound with anticancer activity.

Indole-dihydroindole bridged dimers; i.e., the same or different alkaloid moieties bridged through the 3-carboxyl via bis-amide are described in Conrad and Gerzon (United States Patent 4,199,504).

Otherwise, indole-dihydroindole vinca alkaloid dimers have not been bridged through other positions in the molecule to form vinca tetramers.

VLB and vincristine have been conjugated with proteins to form materials useful in radioimmune assays.4-Desacetyl VLB 3-carboxazide (desacetyl vinblastinoic azide) and corresponding vincristine compound have been the derivatives employed; see Conrad et al., J. Med. Chem., 22, 391 (1979), and European Patent 41,935, and United States Patent 4,203,898 for illustrations of this reaction.

This invention provides compounds of the formula R--OO-CCOO-XX-CO-Z (I) wherein R is a dimeric indole-dihydroindole radical preferably derived from a 4-acetoxy or 4-hydroxy antineoplastic dimeric indoledihydroindole alkaloid, such as (II)

wherein R2 is H, Chub or CHO; when R4 and R5 are taken singly, R5 is H, and one of R3 and R4 is ethyl and the other is H or OH; when R4 and R5 are taken together with the carbons to which they are attached, they form an oxirane ring, and R3 is ethyl; wherein R' is COOH, COOC1~3alkyl or CO-R6, wherein R6 is NH2, NHC,~3alkyl, NH-CH2CH2CI, 1 -pyrrolidyl, 1 -piperidinyl, NH-CH2CH2YCH3 wherein Y is S or O or a carboxy protecting group; wherein Z is OH, OCt~3alkyl, OR, NH2, NHNH2, or a carboxy activating group (Z) or a carboxy protecting group (Z2); and wherein X is C14 straight chain alkylene, C28branched alkylene, C24alkenylene, C3~4alkynylene, C3~6cycloalkylene, phenylene, hydroxysubstituted C1~4alkylene or a direct bond; and salts thereof.When Z is OR the R group can be the same or different as that in (I).

The compounds of this invention in which Z in formula (I) is OR, OH, OC,~3alkyl, NH2 or NHNH2 have utility as antitumor compounds in transplanted tumors in mice, and also possess antimitotic properties.

When Z in formula (I) is a carboxy activating (acylating) group it can be any of the well known groups employed in the chemical art and in particular those used in peptide chemistry. Such groups are well known in the art and are discussed for example, in Peptide Synthesis by M. Bodanszky, Y. S.

Klausner and M. A. Ondetti, Second Edition (1976) John Wiley 8 Sons, notably pages 85 to 136.

Amongst the values Z may take, there may be mentioned an azide (-N3) group, a halogen atom for example bromine and especially chlorine, an acyioxy group of the formula R7Co.O where R7 is an aliphatic or aromatic residue such as for example C13 alkyl, an aikoxy group preferably C13 alkoxy or an aryloxy group, a methanesuiphonyloxy, tosyloxy or benzenesulphonyloxy group, an imidazolyi radical or the residue of an N-acylhydroxylamine derivative, for example where Z is succinimidoxy, phthalimidoxy or benzotriazolyloxy.

When Z is a carboxy protecting group or R1 is COR6 and R6 is a carboxy protecting group, it can be any of the well known groups employed for this purpose. This term refers to the commonly used carboxylic acid protecting groups employed to block or protect the carboxylic acid functionality while reactions involving other functional sites of the compound are carried out. Such carboxy protecting groups are noted for their ease of cleavage by hydrolytic or by hydrogenolytic methods to the corresponding carboxylic acid. Examples of carboxylic acid ester protecting groups are those of formula OR7 where R7 is tert-butyl, benzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, C2-6alkanoyloxymethyl,2-iodoethyl, p-nitrobenzyl, diphenylmethyl (benzhydryl), phenacyl, 4-halophenacyl, dimethylallyl, 2 2,2-trichloroethyl, tri(C1~3alkyl)silyl, succinimidomethyl and like ester forming moieties. Other known carboxy protecting groups such as those described by E. Haslam in "Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry", Chapter 5, shall be recognized as suitable.

Specific examples of such carboxy activating or protecting groups include Cl, Br, N3, imidazolyl, succinimidoxy

phthalimidoxy

benzotriazolyloxy

methanesulfonyloxy, tosyloxy, benzenesulfonyloxy or the like, acylating groups (Z') or CCI3CH 20, CBr3CH20, CH2lCH20, benzyloxy, methylbenzyloxy, t-butyloxy, allyloxy, methoxybenzyloxy, nitrobenzyloxy, phenacyloxy, nitrophenacyloxy, methoxyphenacyloxy, methylphenacyloxy, diphenylmethoxy, trityloxy (triphenylmethoxy), trimethylsilyloxy or the like carboxy protecting groups (Z2).

Groups illustrative of X include methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, vinyl, propenylene, butenylene, butynylene, ethynylene, hydroxyethylene, 1 ,2-dihydroxyethylene, 1 2-dimethylethylene, 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutylene, 3,4-dimethylbutylene, 1 ,4-cyclohexylene, 1 4-phenylene, 1 ,2-phenylene and the like. Preferably X is C14 alkylene, C24 alkenylene, C24 alkynylene, C36 cycloalkylene or phenylene and is especially C14 alkylene.

Salts of the compound of this invention include cationic salts of the C-3 carboxylic acid group when R' is COOH or Z is OH, for example, sodium, potassium, tetramethyl ammonium and the like. Also pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salts are included such as salts derived from non-toxic inorganic acids such as: hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydriodic acid, phosphorous acid and the like, as well as salts derived from non-toxic organic acids such as aliphatic mono and dicarboxylic acids, phenyl-substituted alkanoic acids, hydroxyalkanoic acid hydroxyalkandioic acids, aromatic acids, aliphatic and aromatic sulfonic acids, etc.Such pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thus include sulfate, pyrosulfate, bisulfate, sulfite, bisulfite, nitrate, phosphate, monohydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphosphate, metaphosphate, pyrophosphate, chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, propionate, decanoate, caprylate, acrylate, formate, isobutyrate, caprate, heptanoate, propiolate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, suberate, sebacate, fumarate, maleate, mandelate, butyne-1,4-dioate, hexyne-1,6-dioate, benzoate, chlorobenzoate, methylbenzoate, dinitrobenzoate, hydroxybenzoate, methoxybenzoate, phthalate, terephthalate, benzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, chlorobenzenesulfonate, xylenesulfonate, phenylacetate, phenylpropionate, phenyl butyrate, citrate, lactate, P-hydroxybutyrate, glycollate, malate, naphthaiene-l -sulfonate, naphthalene-2-sulfonate, mesylate and the like salts.

The synthesis of the compounds of this invention can be carried out in stepwise fashion. First, a 4-desacetyl indoledihydroindole of the formula ROH prepared by the procedure of Hargrove, United States Patent 3,392,1 73 is acylated with a carboxylic acid anhydride of the formula

wherein X has its previous meaning, to yield a compound of formula I wherein Z is OH and Rand X have their previous meanings. Compounds wherein Z is OC1~3 alkyl are prepared from the half-acid, R-CO-X-COOH, via one of the usuai esterification procedures using a C13 alkanol. Methanol is the preferred alkanol since che other ester groups present in starting materials of the formula ROH are methyl esters and transesterification problems are thus largely avoided.

When an indole-dinhydroindole is to be reacted with succinic anhydride or the like to prepare a compound of formula (I) wherein R' is COOH or COR6 where R6 is a carboxy protecting group, the C-3 ester group as well as the C-4 ester group must be hydrolyzed nitially to yield, for example from VLB, a 4-desacetyl vinblastinoic acid-see United States Patent 4,012,390. Next, the C-3 carboxyl group must be protected with a carboxy protecting group as defined above. This C-3 carboxy protected derivative having a free hydroxyl at C-4 is then reacted as above with an anhydride. The resulting compound can then be manipulated chemically to yield compounds according to (I) in which Z is an acylating moiety provided reaction conditions are neutral or basic, thus avoiding removal of the C-3 carboxy protecting group.After the desired terminal group, Z, is in place, the carboxy protecting group at C-3 can be removed to yield compounds according to (I) in which R' is COOH.

Alternatively, compounds of the formula R-O-C0-X-CO-0C13aIkyI can be prepared directly by using a half ester, half acid chloride as the acylating agent: i.e., Cl-CO- X-CO-0-C13alkyI. Other acylating groups can be used in place of Cl, and the acylating moiety can be represented generally by the formula Z1-CO-X-C0-OC13aIkyl wherein X has its previous meaning and Z1 is Cl, Br, N3, succinimidoxy, phthalimidoxy, methanesulfonyloxy, tosyloxy, phenylsulfonyloxy, benzotriazolyloxy, or other acylating moiety.

Alternatively, an acylating agent of the formula Z'--COO--X--CO-Z2 where Z2 is a carboxy protecting group, can be used to yield a compound of the formula R-O-CO-X-CO-Z2.

Compounds according to formula (I) in which Z is NH2 or NHNH2 are prepared by forming an "activated" vinca dimer (R group) 4-hemi acid of the formula R--OO-CCOO-XX-CO-Z where Z is preferably CI, with ammonia or hydrazine. A mixed anhydride is formed from the half-acid by treatment successively with N-methylmorpholine and an alkyl chloroformate. Reaction of the mixed anhydride with alcoholic ammonia or hydrazine yields the desired half-amide. If a compound is to be prepared in which R' is COOH and Z is NH2 or NHNH2, standard basic reactions can be employed provided with R1 carboxyl group is first protected.

Compounds in which Z is OR in which R is also an indoledihydroindole radical represented by (II) are prepared by forming an acylating moiety of the formula R-O-CO-X-CO-Z1 and reacting it with the same or different 4-desacetyl indoledihydroindole alkaloid, ROH, provided any free carboxyl group at C-3 is first protected, such protecting group being optionally removed when the reaction is complete.

Alternative procedures for preparing several of the above derivatives involve the use of a coupling agent such as a carbodiimide, for example, DDC (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) or EEDQ (Nethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1 2-dihydroquinoline) etc., under anhydrous reaction conditions with a halfacid HO-CO-X-CO-Z2, where Z2 is a carboxy protecting group. For example, an initial 4-succinoxy derivative can be prepared from ROH and HO-CO-CH2-CH2-CO-Z2 in the presence of DCC to yield a compound of the formula R--OO-CCOO-XX-CO-Z2.

The carboxy protecting group can then be removed and the resulting free acid reacted with hydroxyphthalimide, hydroxybenzotriazole, hydroxysuccinimide, halogenating agent, azide or the like to yield reactive acylating intermediates of the formula R-0-CO-X-CO-Z3 wherein Z3 is succinimidoxy, benzotriazolyloxy, phthalimidoxy, CI, Br, N3 etc. These intermediates are then reacted with a second, same or different, indole-dihydroindole ROH, to form a bridged vinca tetramer or can be reacted with immunoglobulin or fragments of immunoglobulin to form conjugates, for example, useful in a radioimmune assay or with polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies to yield anticancer drugs.In addition the "activated" derivatives can be reacted with a lower alcohol to yield half esters of the formula R-O-CO-X-CO-0-C1 3a Ikyl When X in the compound to be prepared is hydroxy, dihydroxy ortetrahydroxy C1~4alkyJene; i.e., a linking group derived from malic, tartaric acid or saccharic acid, in preparing the compounds it is necessary to protect the hydroxy or hydroxyls with a protecting group such as a pyranyl group. A trialkylsilyl group such as a trimethylsilyl group can also be used. In the instance of a vicinal dihydroxy compound such as tartaric acid, an acetal; i.e., an isopropylidene or cyclohyeoxylidene derivative, can be used.

When X is a direct bond (the linking group is formed from oxalic acid), oxalylchloride cannot be used since the hemioxalate may cyclize with the 3-hydroxyl. However, an oxalate half ester or an oxalic acid derivative of the formula Cl-CO-CO-Z2 can be used and the ester hydrolyzed or the carboxy protecting group removed during the simultaneous conversion to an acylating moiety, RO--COO-Z'.

Generally, the compounds of this invention of the structure R--OO-CCOO-XX-CO-Z' where Z' is Cl, Br, tosyloxy, benzenesulfonyloxy, methanesulfonyloxy, N3 or other acylating moiety are useful not only in preparing those compounds of this invention wherein Rand Z both contain indole-dihydroindole alkaloid radicals, but as stated above, are also useful for coupling to immunoglobulin such as polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies so as to provide suitable conjugates for radioimmune assay purposes or with anticancer properties.

Such conjugates are prepared by reacting the polyclonal or monoclonal antibody with the compound of structure R--OO-CCOO-XX-CO-Z' under conventional conditions such as for example in aqueous medium and at a temperature of from 50C to 250C, for example at room temperature, and at a pH of 7.5 to 9.5, preferably 8.0 to 9.0. The process results in the attachment by covalent linkage of one or more vinca residues at the free amino groups of the immunoglobulin molecule, for example, amino groups derived from lysine residues. The number of residues attached will depend on the concentration of the reactants and the duration of the reaction but the average number is usually for example from 3 to 14 or 20.

For example in carrying out the reaction, a solution of the compound of formula R-O-CO-X- CO-Z' in a suitable solvent such as dioxan is slowly added dropwise to a buffered solution of immunoglobulin in for example 0.34 M borate buffer at pH 8.6. The conjugate is isolated by gel filtration and stored in saturated ammonium suiphate solution being readily brought back into solution by dialysis with a buffer solution for example a phosphate buffered saline pH 7.4, or alternatively it can be stored in a refrigerator at 40C or frozen at for example 20OC.

The preferred materials for preparing such conjugates are monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to human or animal tumor associated antigens such as for example (i) lg from goats or sheep immunised with carcinoembryonic antigen (ii) Ig from rabbit antiacute lymphoblastic leukemia serum (iii) Ig from various primate antisera raised against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myleoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia (iv) lg from goats or sheep immunised with lung carcinoma material (v) monoclonal Ig from mouse hybridomas secreting anti-human colorectal carcinoma antibodies (vi) monoclonal lg from mouse hybridomas secreting anti-human melanoma antibodies (vii) monoclonal lg from mouse hybridomas secreting antibodies reacting with human leukemia cells (viii) monoclonal lg from mouse hybridomas secreting antibodies reacting with human neuroblastoma cells (ix) monoclonal lg from mouse hybridomas secreting antibodies reacting with human breast cancer antigens (x) monoclonal lg from mouse hydridomas secreting antibodies reacting with human ovarian carcinoma cells (xi) monoclonal lg from mouse hybridomas secreting antibodies reacting with human osteosarcoma cells (xii) monoclonal Ig from mouse hybridomas secreting antibodies to lung carcinoma.

Starting 4-desacetyl indole-dihydroindole alkaloids and ROH useful in forming the compounds of this invention, can be represented by the following 2-dimensional structure

wherein R2 is H, CH3 or CHO; when R4 and R5 are taken singly, R6 is H and one of R3 and R4 is ethyl and the other is H or OH; when R4 and R5 are taken together with the carbons to which they are attached, they form an oxirane ring, and R3 is ethyl; and R1 is COOH, COOC~3alkyl, or COR6 wherein R6 is NH2, NHC,~3alkyl, NH-CH2CH2Cl, 1 -pyrrolidyl, 1 -piperidinyl or NH-CH2CH2YCH3 wherein Y is S or 0.

In the above formula, where R' is CO-OCH3, R2 is methyl, R3 is hydroxyl, R4 is ethyl and R5 is H, 4-desacetyl VLB (4-desacetyl vinblastine) is represented; where R' is CO-OCH3, R2 is formyl, R3 is hydroxyl, R4 is ethyl and R5 is H, 4-desacetyl vincrisine is represented; where R' is CO-OCH3, R2 is methyl, R3 is ethyl, R4 is hydroxyl, and R5 is H, 4-desacetyl leurosidine is represented; where R' is CO OCH3, R2 is methyl or formyl, R3 is ethyl and R4 and R5 taken together with the carbons to which they are attached form an a-epoxide ring, 4-desacetyl leurosine and 4-desacetyl leuroformine, respectively are represented; where R' is CO-OCH3, R2 is methyl, R3 is ethyl, R4 and R5 are H, 4-desacetyl deoxy VLB "B" or 4-desacetyl-4'-deoxyleurosidine or 4-desacetyl-4'-epideoxy VLB is represented; where R1 is CO-OCH3, R2 is methyl, R4 is ethyl and R3 and R5 are H, 4-desacetyl deoxy VLB "A" or 4-desacetyl4'-deoxy VLB is represented; where R1 is CO-OCH3, R2 is CHO, R3 is ethyl, R4 and R5 are H, 4desacetyl-4'-epideoxyvincristine (4-desacetyl- 1 -formyl- 1 -desmethyl-4'-deoxyleurosidine) is represented; and where R1 is CO-NH2, R2 is methyl, R3 is OH, R4 is ethyl and R5 is H, vindesine (4desacetyl-VLB 3-carboxamide) is represented. Other 3-carboxamide derivatives of the 4-desacetyl indole-dihydroindole alkaloids represented by Ill are named accordingly; i.e. as the 3-(2methylthio)ethyl carboxamide derivative, as the 3-(2-methoxy)ethylcarboxamide, as the 3carboxhydrazide, as the 3-pyrrolidinyl derivative, as the N-methylcarboxamide derivative, etc. for each of the amide groups comprehended within R1 above.Compounds according to II in which R' is a carboxyl group are named and "oic acids"; i.e., 4-desacetyl vinblastinoic acid, 4-desacetyl leurosinoic acid, 4-desacetyl vincristonoic acid, etc. With regard to formation of derivatives of 4-desacetyl vinblastinoic acid, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the 3carboxyl must be protected with one of the carboxy protecting groups such as those listed above in defining Z2, prior to reaction with an anhydride or other acylating agent, Z'-CO-X-COOC,~,alkyl, and that the product of this reaction R-O-CO-X-COOC13alkyI, must be hydrolyzed and converted to a hemi acid carrying an acylating group, (COZ') i.e., COCI, COBr, CO-N3, succinimidoxy, etc. without use of a second carboxy protecting group.

Literature references to the parent alkaloids of the 4-desacetyl derivatives (III) are as follows: leurosine (U.S. Patent No. 3,370,057), VLB (U.S. Patent No. 3,097,137), leurosidine (vinrosidine) and leurocristine (to be referred to hereafter as vincristine) (both U.S. Patent No. 3,205,220), desmethyl VLB (U.S. Patent No. 3,354,163), vindesine and other 3-carboxamides (U.S. Patent No. 4,203,898), vinblastinoic acid, vincristinoic acid, etc. (U.S. Patent No. 4,012;390), 4'-epivincristine (U.S. Patent No.

4,143,041) leuroformine, formylleurosine (U.S. Patent No. 4,279,816), and deoxy VLB "A" and "B" [Tetrahedron Letters, 783(1958)].

The preparation of typical compounds according to formula (II) is illustrated below. For ease of naming, a compound of the structure R-O-CO-CH2-CH2-COOH, for example, would be designated a VLB-4-hemisuccinate, omitting the 4-desacetyl term as common to all R radicals.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of VLB-4-Hemisuccinate Two grams of 4-desacetyl VLB were dissolved in pyridine to which solution were added 2 g of succinic anhydride. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 5 hours.

(Temperatures in the range 0--500C. may be used for this reaction). The volatile constituents were removed by evaporation in vacuo and the residue taken up in CH2CI2. The CH2CI2 layer was washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and then with water. The organic layer was dried and the solvent removed therefrom in vacuo. VLB 4-hemisuccinate thus prepared had the following physical characteristics: IR: peaks at 1737, 1615, 1460, 1434 cam~' nmr: (CDCl3) 8.05, 7.54, 7.14, 6.58, 6.1 1, 5.83, 5.46, 5.28,3.80,3.78,3.69, 3.62,2.71,0.92, 0.79 ppm.

The sulfate salt was prepared by dissolving VLB hemisuccinate in anhydrous ethanol and 2% ethanolic sulfuric acid added to pH=3.95, and then evaporating the volatile constituents. The sulfate salt had the following physical characteristics: U.V. (H2O) maximum at 214,268,283,312 nm IR (KBr): peaks at 3400 (broad), 1740 cm-1 Titration (66% DMF): pKa=4.80, 6.10, 7.80 The above procedure was used to prepare the following additional compounds: Vincristine 4-hemisuccinate from 4-desacetylvincristine; yield=700 mg (from 1.95 g).The compound had the following physical characteristics: IR: peaks at 1740, 1 684 cm-l nmr (DCCl3): 8.77, 8.15, 8.11, 7.72, 7.54, 7.18, 6.90, 6.83, 5.89, 5.39, 5.21,4.69,4.51, 3.86, 3.74, 3.67 ppm The sulfate salt was prepared by adding 2% ethanolic sulfuric acid to an ethanol solution of the free base (400 mg); yield=330 mg; Rf (silica gel, methanol)=0.16.

Vindesine 4-hemisuccinate was prepared from 300 mg of vindesine (4-desacetyl VLB C-3 carboxamide); yield=290 mg The compound has the following physical characteristics: IR: peaks at 3450, 1733, 1693 cm-l nmr (CDCl3): 8.07, 7.52, 7.10, 6.54, 6.08, 5.92, 5.49, 5.27, 3.70, 3.59, 3.46, 2.83, 0.91, 0.78 ppm.

The sulfate salt was prepared as above (200 mg of free base gave 160 mg of a white amorphous powder) tic Rf (silica gel, methanol)=.56.

4'-epideoxy VLB 4-hemisuccinate from 4-desacetyl-4'-epideoxy VLB (1080 mg); yield=540 mg; Rf (SiO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=.08.

Vinblastinoic acid 4-hemisuccinate from 4-desacetyl vinblastinoic acid. The compound had the following physical characteristics; Rf(SiO2 gel, MeOH)=0.23 nmr (CDCl3): 8.05, 7.52, 7.11, 6.57, 6.06, 5.71, 5.26, 5.14, 3.75, 3.60, 2.82, 0.90, 0.76 ppm.

Following the above procedure, 4-desacetyl VLB was reacted with maleic anhydride to form VLB 4-hemimaleate. The compound had the following physical characteristics: IR: peaks at 1730, 1590 cm-' nmr: (CHCI3) 8.61, 8.04, 7.50, 7.12, 6.59, 6.48, 5.78 (J=1 2Hz) 6.09, 5.7, 5.51, 5.3, 3.79, 2.70 ppm Following the above procedure, VLB 4-hemiglutarate was prepared (700 mg from 3 g starting material) with the following physical characteristics: IR: peak at 3450, 1 736 cm-l nmr: (CHCI3) 8.07, 7.53, 7.13, 6.53, 6.13, 5.83, 5.45, 5.24, 3.80, 3.68, 3.63, 2.69,0.91,0.81 ppm.

Rf(SiO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)-O.25 sulfate salt (yield=50%) Rf(SO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=0.08.

In any of the above acylations of a 4-desacetyl indoledihydroindole vinca dimer, any incidental acylation of the 3-OH can be reversed by treatment with wet silica gel according to the procedure of Hargrove, United States Patent 3,392,173. Alternatively, the compounds can be purified from any 3 acyl derivative or other by-products of the reaction by chromatography, conveniently over silica gel using an ethyl acetate/methanol solvent mixture as the eluant.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of "Activated" VLB 4-Hemisuccinate and Conjugate Ninety mg. of VLB 4-hemisuccinate were dissolved in 2 ml of CH2CI2. Fifteen yl of N-methyl morpholine were addea and the resulting solution cooled to about OOC. About 20 yl of isobutyl chloroform ate were added followed by 20 mg. of N-hydroxysuccinimide. The reaction miture was heated to reflux for abot 1 5 minutes, and the solvent and other volatile constituents removed by evaporation in vacuo. The gummy residue was used for conjugation with proteins without further purification. The compound had the following structure:

where R is a VLB radical as set forth above. The compound can be named systematically as succinimidooxycarbonyl)]propionyl VLB.It has the following physical characteristics: IR: (CHCI3) peaks at 1741, 1718 cm-' In a separate run, the intermediate mixed anhydride of VLB 4-hemisuccinate and isobutylcarbonic acid, having the structure below, was isolated and characterized as follows: IR: peaks at 3450, 1738, 1820 cm-' nmr (CDCI3): 8.05, 7.45, 7.1 5, 6.40, 6.10, 5.88, 5.42, 5.37,4.00, 3.81, 3.76, 3.65, 2.74, 0.94 ppm.

R-0-CO-CH 2-CH2-CO-O-CO-O-isobutyl where R is VLB linked to the mixed anhydride function at C-4.

350 yl of 14.7 mg/ml solution of "activated" VLB 4-hemisuccinate in DMF was added with rapid stirring to 2.0 ml of a 20.0 mg/ml solution of mouse monoclonal anti-lung small cell carcinoma antibody in 0.34 M borate buffer pH 8.6. After stirring at room temperature for 4 hours the reaction mixture was adjusted to pH 7.4 using 1 N HCI and and clarified by centrifugation. The product was isolated by gel filtration on a 2.0x22.0 cm (67.0 ml) column of Bio-Gel P-6 equilibrated with phosphate buffered saline. The excluded peak was collected (9.7 ml) and assyed for desacetylvinblastine and protein by spectrometry at 270 and 280 nm. The conjugate so prepared contained 7.5 moles VLB per mole of lg.

An improved method of preparing "activated" VLB 4-hemisuccinate where the activating group is the 1 -succinimidoxy group is as follows.

One gram of VLB 4-hemisuccinate was mixed with 380 mg. of N-methylmorpholine in 20 ml. of methylenedichloride, and 390 mg. of isobutylchloroformate were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at about 0 C. under a nitrogen atmosphere for about 45 minutes. 795 mg of Nhydroxysuccinimide were added and the reaction mixture heated at reflux temperature under N2 with stirring for about 45 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled and the cooled mixture washed with deionized water and then dried immediately with Na2SO4. The drying agent was separated by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to dryness in vacuo; residue weight=900 mg; tic indicated 90+% purity.

Following the original procedure, VLB 4-hemiglutarate was treated successively with Nmethylmorpholine, isobutylchloroformate and N-hydroxysuccinimide in methylenechloride solution to yield 1 60 mg.

of 4-[4-( 1 -succinimidoxycarbonyl)]butyryl VLB from 400 mg.

of 4-glutaryl VLB.

Following the above procedure, 4'-epideoxy VLB 4-hemisuccinate was converted to 4-[3-( 1 - succinimidoxycarbonyl)]propionyl VLB. Chromatography over SiO2 gel using 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH; Ref=.23; yield=360 mg. from 540 mg. of starting hemisuccinate.

Following the above procedure, "activated" vindesine 4-hemisuccinate or succinimidoxycarbonyl)]propionyl vindesine was prepared. The compound had the following physical characteristics: IR maxima at 3520, 3470, 3400, 1810, 1791, 1744 with a broad shoulder 174v1 1650 cm-'.

nmr (CDCl3): 8.08, 7.45, 7.15, 6.44, 6.12, 5.85, 5.45,5.32, 3.79, 3.64, 3.58, 2.85, 2.84. .95, .78 ppm.

Also prepared was 4-[3-( 1 -succinimidoxycarbonyl)jpropionyl vincristine; yield=140 mg. from 256 mg. of starting material.

IR peaks at 3460, 1810, 1785, 1744, 1718 and 1683 cm-'.

nmr (CDC13): 8.79, 8.19, 8.14, 7.78, 7.41, 7.18, 6.97, 6.84, 5.92, 5.42, 5.35,4.72,4.52,3.81, 3.78, 3.71,2.85, 0.83 ppm.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of Methyl VLB 4-Hemisuccinate 200 mg of VLB 4-hemisuccinate were dissolved in 10 ml. of acetic anhydride. Five ml. of glacial acetic acid were added followed by 200 ml. of methanol containing five drops of pyridine. The solution was cooled for one-half hour and then allowed to remain at room temperature for 1 6 hours.

Evaporation of the volatile constituents resulted in an oil. The residue was dissolved in water and the aqueous solution made basic by the addition of 1 4N aqueous ammonium hydroxide. The basic aqueous layer was extracted with CH2CI2. The CH2CI2 extract was washed with water and dried.

Removal of the solvent left the methyl ester df VLB 4-succinate as a residue (also named as methoxycarbonyl)propionyl VLB.

An improved method of preparing the half methyl ester follows: 1020 mg of VLB 4-hemisuccinate activated with N-hydroxysuccinimide, as provided by Example 2, were dissolved in 25 ml of MeOH. The reaction was sealed under N2 and protected from the light.

After 1 8 hours, the volatile constituents were removed in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed on an HPLC silica gel column eluted with a gradient of EtOAc to EtOAc-MeOH (1:1). Fractions containing the desired product, as determined by talc, were combined. Volatile constituents were removed in vacuo yielding 310 mg of methyi-4-hemisuccinate VLB as a tan amorphous powder. The sulfate was prepared in the usual manner. (2% H2SO4 in 2BEtOH).

Other methyl esters prepared by the above procedure include: Methyl vindesine 4-hemisuccinate Rf(SO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=0.5 IR: peaks at 1735, 1699 cm-' Mass spectrum: 867 (M+), 836 (M-31), 808 (M-59) nmr (CDCI3): 9.94, 8.05, 7.52, 7.14, 6.98, 6.58,6.12, 5.87, 5.53, 5.30, 3.79, 3.69, 3,62, 3.47, 2.74, 0.90, 0.81 ppm.

Sulfate salt: Rf(SO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=0.55 Methyl 4'-epideoxy VLB 4-succinate Mass spectrum; 866 (M+), 864, 880, 894, 908, 339 (M-vindoline moiety), 1 39 IR: peaks at 1743 cm-' nmr (CDCl3): 8.03, 7.55, 7.16, 6.60, 6.10, 5.89, 5.46, 5.39, 3.82, 3.72, 3.64, 2.76 EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 4-Succinoyl VLB Amide One gram of VLB 4-hemisuccinate was dissolved in about 25 ml of methylene dichloride. 200 mg of N-methyl morpholine were added to the solution under a nitrogen atmosphere while the reaction mixture was cooled in an ice bath. 200 mg of isobutylchloroformate were added and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature at about OOC. for 1 5 minutes.The reaction mixture was then evaporated to dryness to yield a tan gum. The gum was dissolved in methanolic ammonia and kept at ambient temperature under an N2 atmosphere for about 48 hours. Evaporation of the volatile constituents yielded a residue comprising the amide (on the 4-succinate), of VLB 4-hemisuccinate, named as 4-succinoyl VLB amide for convenience. The amide had the following physical characteristics: IR peaks at 1738, 1685 cm-' Mass Spectrum: 867 (M+), 355, 1 54 nmr (CDCI3): 9.86, 8.04, 7.53, 7.12, 6.63,6.10,5.85,5.48, 5.32,3.81,3.80,3.73, 3.62, 2.72, O.90, 0.82 ppm.

Rf(SiO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=0.38 Sulfate salt: R,(SiO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=0.33.

The corresponding hydrazide, 4-succinoyl VLB hydrazide, was prepared as above by using methanolic hydrazine and a greatly shortened reaction time. The compound had the following physical characteristics: Rf(SiO2, 1:1 EtOAc/MeOH)=0.23 IR: peaks at 3400, 3450, 1739, 1 680 cm-l nmr (CDCl3): 9.88, 8.03, 7.53, 7.12, 6.55, 6.10, 5.85, 5.46, 5.27, 3.79, 3.60, 2.30, 0.88, 0.81 ppm.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of Methyl VLB 4-Adipoate One and four-tenths grams of 4-desacetyl VLB were dissolved in 50 ml. of methylene dichloride.

Three grams of adipic acid were added followed by 3 g. of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The reaction mixture was maintained in a water-free atmosphere at ambient temperature for about 24 hours. The reaction mixture was then filtered and the filter cake washed with methylene dichloride. Evaporation of the methylene dichloride yielded a residue which was purified by chromatography over silica gel using 1:1 ethyl acetate/methanol solvent mixture as the eluant. The major product of the chromatography was methyl VLB 4-adipoate, apparently produced by the presence of unreacted dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and methanol during chromatography; yield=220 mg.; nmr, peak at 3.63 (CH3O- new methyl ester); mass spectrum; peaks at 910 (M+) 924 (M+14), 879, 852, 355, 1 54.

The following illustrates the scope of the compounds represented by II above. In naming these compounds, where a group present in the original indole-dihydroindole dimer has been replaced by a new function; i.e., 4-acetoxy replaced by 4-succinoxy or 3-methylcarboxylate by carboxamide, the group removed will be omitted.For example, VLB 4-succinate instead of 4-desacetyl VLB 4-succinate or vindesine 4-succinate for 4-desacetyl-3-desmethoxycarbonyl VLB 3-carboxamide 4-su ccinate; 4'-deoxy-4-[3-(1-succinimidoxy)propionyl VLB 4'-deoxy-4-(3-ethoxyca rbonyl)propionyl- 1 -formyl leurosidine 4'-deoxy-1 -formylleurosidine-4-maleate 4'-deoxy-1 -formyl-4-(3-azidocarbonyl)propanoyl leu rosidine 4-(4-t-butyloxycarbonyl)butynylleu rosine 4-[5-( 1 -phthalimidoxy)]valerylvinblastinoic acid 4-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propiolyl vincristinoic acid 4-[3-(2-benzotriazolyloxy)]propionyl vincristine 3-i2-chloroethyl)carboxamide 4-[(3-trilyloxycarbonyl)propionyl leurosidine 3-(1 -pyrrolidyl)carboxamide 4'-deoxy VLB 3-hemiglutarate leurosine 3-hemiadipate bis-[4-(4-desacetyl VLB)]succi nate bis-[4-(4-desacetyl VLB 3-carboxamide)] maleate The compounds of this invention in which Z is OR, OH, NH2, NHNH2, or C1-3 alkyl have utility as antitumor compounds active against transplanted tumors in mice, Compounds in which Z is succinimidoxy, phthali midoxy, Br, CI, N3, benzotriazolyloxy, tosyloxy, benzenesulfonyloxy or methanesulfonyloxy are useful, as previously stated, in the preparation of antibody conjugates.

As evidence of the utility of compounds according to I above in which Z is OR, OH, NH2, NHNH2 or OC,~3 alkyl as mitotic inhibitors, their ability to cause metaphase arrest was measured by standard procedures. Table I gives the results of this study. In the table, column 1 gives the name of the compound, and column 2 the concentration in the medium of the compound from column 1 in mcgiml. showing metaphase arrest.

TABLE I Concentration in mcg./ml.

Name of compound showing metaphase arrest 4-Succinoyl VLB amide 0.2 Methyl VLB 4-hemisuccinate sulfate 0.02 Methyl vindesine 4-hemisuccinate sulfate 0.2 VLB 4-hemiglutarate sulfate 0.2 Vindesine 4-hemisuccinate sulfate 0.2 Certain of the above compounds have also shown activity against transplanted tumors in mice.

This information is summarized in Table II in which column 1 gives the name of the compound, column 2 the tumor, column 3 the dose level in mg./kg. and column 4 the percent tumor inhibitor. P1 534J is a leukemia and 6C3HED a lymphosarcoma.

TABLE II Percent Name of compound Tumor Dose inhibition Vindesine 4-hemisuccinate 6C3HED 12 48 25 98 50 100 VLB 4-hemisuccinate sulfate P 1 534J 18 57 36 Toxic 72 Toxic 6C3HED 18 100 36 100 72 Toxic Vincristine 4-hemisuccinate sulfate P 1 534J 20 63 40 83 60 94 80 96 6C3HED 20 100 40 100 60 100 80 100

Claims (8)

1. A compound of the formula: R-O-CO-X-CO-Z wherein R is a dimeric indole-dihydroindole radical derived from a 4-acetoxy or 4-hydroxy antineoplastic dimeric indole-dihydroindole alkaloid, wherein Z is OR wherein R is the same or different, OH, OC,1-3alkyl, NH2, NENH2, a carboxy activating group (Z1) or a carboxy protecting group (Z2), and wherein X is C14 straight chain alkylene, C28 branched alkylene, C2~4alkenylene, C3~4alkynylene, C36cycloalkylene, phenylene, hydroxy-substituted C,~4alkylene or a direct bond, and salts thereof.

2. A compound according to claim 1 in which the radical R has the formula:

wherein R2 is H, CH3 or CHO; when R4 and R5 are taken singly, R5 is H, and one of R3 and R4 is ethyl and the other is H or OH; when R4 and R5 are taken together with the carbons to which they are attached, they form an oxirane ring, and R3 is ethyl; wherein R' is COOH, COOC1-3alkyl or CO-R6, wherein R6 is NH2, NH--C1-3alkyl, NH--CH2CH2Cl,1-pyrrolidyl,1-piperidinyl, or NH-CH2CH2YCH3 wherein Y is S or 0: and wherein Z is OH, OC~3 alkyl, OR, Z' orZ2.

3. A compound according to claim 2 in which Z is OR, OH or OC~3 alkyl.

4. A compound according to claim 2 in which Z is Br, CI, N3, succinimidoxy, phthalimidoxy, benzotriazolyloxy, methansulfonyloxy, tosyloxy or benzenesulphonyloxy.

5. A compound according to claim 2 in which Z is CCI3CH2O, CBr3CH2O, CH2ICH2O, benzyloxy, methylbenzyloxy, t-butyloxy, allyloxy, methoxybenzyloxy, nitrobenzyloxy, phenacyloxy, nitrophenacyloxy, methoxyphenacyloxy, methylphenacyloxy, diphenylmethoxy, trityloxy, trimethysilyloxy.

6. A compound according to any of claims 2 to 5 in which X is C14 alkylene.

7. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound as defined in claim 1 and a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier.

8. A process for producing a compound as defined in claim 1 which comprises reacting a compound of formula A-CO-X-CO-B where either A is Z1 and B is Z2, OC13alkyI or OR, or A and B togetherform an -0-link, with a 4hydroxy dimeric indole-dihydroindole, ROH, and optionally removing a C13 alkyl or Z2 group to give the free acid in which Z is OH, or which comprises activating a compound of formula R-O-CO-X- COOH to yield a compound in which Z is Z' and optionally reacting the product with ammonia, hydrazine or a C13 alkanol to yield a compound in which Z is NH2, NHNH2 or OC~3 alkyl.