Abstract: An antitumor compound of formula (5): Also provided by the present invention is a method of preparing a compound of formula (5) whereby diesterification of the alcohol groups located at the 2′and 7 positions of paclitaxel is followed by the hydrolysis of the 2′hexanoate group resulting in 7-hexanoyltaxol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel disulfides and thiols that are of up to about eighteen amino acids. One example, is a compound of the formula (1): A—B—C—S—S—D—E—F, wherein: A and F are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an amino acid, a dipeptide, a tripeptide, a modified polypeptide up to three amino acids long, and a carbobenzoxy groups, B and E are selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a dipeptide, a tripeptide, and a modified polypeptide comprising up to and including three amino acids, C and D are selected from the group consisting of a modified polypeptide and a polypeptide comprising up to and including three amino acids, and S is the sulfur atom in the modified polypeptide and the polypeptide in C and D.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide-like compounds, eg aminocarboxylic acid amide derivatives, and to methods of using same to stimulate cells of the immune system, bone marrow and other organs. The present compounds can be used to enhance vaccination, increase synthesis of and enhance function of blood cell components and enhance anti-neoplastic effects of various agents. The compounds of the invention can be used to produce a variety of further pharmacologic effects.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel disulfides and thiols that are of up to about eighteen amino acids. One example, is a compound of the formula (1): A-B-C-S-S-D-E-F, wherein: A and F are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an amino acid, a dipeptide, a tripeptide, a modified polypeptide up to three amino acids long, and a carbobenzoxy group, B and E are selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a dipeptide, a tripeptide, and a modified polypeptide comprising up to and including three amino acids, C and D are selected from the group consisting of a modified polypeptide and a polypeptide comprising up to and including three amino acids, and S is the sulfur atom in the modified polypeptide and the polypeptide in C and D.

Abstract: An antitumor compound of formula (5) ##STR1## and also provided by the present invention is a method of preparing a compound of formula (5) whereby diesterification of the alcohol groups located at the 2' and 7 positions of paclitaxel is followed by the hydrolysis of the 2' hexanoate group resulting in 7-hexanoyltaxol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide-like compounds, eg aminocarboxylic acid amide derivatives, and to methods of using same to stimulate cells of the immune system, bone marrow and other organs. The present compounds can be used to enhance vaccination, increase synthesis of and enhance function of blood cell components and enhance anti-neoplastic effects of various agents. The compounds of the invention can be used to produce a variety of further pharmacologic effects.

Abstract: An antitumor compound of formula (5) ##STR1## in which R is Ac or H, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 is an alkyl group such as Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu or t-Bu, R.sub.3 is H; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are H; R.sub.1 is an alkyl group such as Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu or t-Bu, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 is H; R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 are H, R.sub.2 is an alkyl group such as Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu or t-Bu; R.sub.1 is H, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are an alkyl group such as Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu or t-Bu; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are an alkyl group Me, Et, Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu or t-Bu. Me is an abbreviation for methyl, Et is ethyl, Pr is propyl, i-Pr is isopropyl, n-Bu is n-butyl, and t-Bu is tert-butyl. Also provided by the invention is a one step method of preparing a compound of formula (5) whereby a taxane having a tiglate group attached to the side chain is contacted with an oxidizing reagent resulting in the formation of an epoxide having antitumor activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting Taxol A, B and C to Taxol primary amine which can then be easily and efficiently converted to Taxol A or docetaxel, thereby significantly increasing the yield of these products from biomass. The method includes the removal of the amide from the side-chain with Schwartz's reagent to form an imine, followed by the hydrolysis of the imine to the primary amine. The primary amine can then be converted to Taxol A or docetaxel. New Taxol imine compounds and primary amine salts have been formed by this process.

Abstract: A process for separating non-oxidizable compounds from a mixture containing at least one oxidizable compound. The mixture is contacted with ozone to oxidize oxidizable compounds to form oxidized compounds which are then converted to water-soluble hydrazones, followed by separation of the hydrazones from the mixture using precipitation, liquid/liquid extraction, chromatography, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting Taxol A, B and C to Taxol primary amine which can then be easily and efficiently converted to Taxol A or docetaxel, thereby significantly increasing the yield of these products from biomass. The method includes the removal of the amide from the side-chain with Schwartz's reagent to form an imine, followed by the hydrolysis of the imine to the primary amine. The primary amine can then be converted to Taxol A or docetaxel. New Taxol imine compounds and primary amine salts have been formed by this process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly selective method for the deacetylation and deacylation of taxol and taxanes compounds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a one step process wherein acyl groups located at the carbon 2', 10, and 7 positions of taxol and other taxane compounds may be selectively removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for converting purified, partially purified or crude taxane mixtures into a protected precursor of 10-deacetylbaccatin III and into 10-deacetylbaccatin III. The process comprises three steps, the first of which includes contacting a mixture containing at least one naturally occurring taxane compound having the structure (II) ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is phenyl, ##STR2## [an ester linkage at the C-13 position] with at least one hydroxy protecting group. The second step involves cleaving the ester linkage of the protected taxane thus giving rise to a protected precursor of 10-deacetylbaccatin III, the deprotection of which leads to 10-deacetylbaccatin III.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of glycoside substituted taxanes to taxol and related compounds that can serve as precursors to taxol. The process includes the oxidation of glycoside substituted taxanes to convert the glycoside to the hydroxyl group. The oxidation can occur in the presence of an acid or followed by treatment with acid. Application of the process to 7-xylosyl taxol ("XT") yields taxol; application to other glycoside substituted taxanes forms compounds that can serve as precursors for taxol. The process includes the formation of certain new taxol related intermediate compounds having a hemialdal at the C-7 site on the taxane ring, which hemialdal can then be converted to taxol or taxol precursors. Since glycoside substituted taxanes are isolated with taxol from naturally occurring biomass, their conversion to taxol using the process of the present invention significantly improves the total yield of taxol from natural sources.

Abstract: A process for separating non-oxidizable compounds from a mixture containing at least one oxidizable compound. The mixture is contacted with ozone to oxidize oxidizable compounds to form oxidized compounds which are then converted to water-soluble hydrazones, followed by separation of the hydrazones from the mixture using precipitation, liquid/liquid extraction, chromatography, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective cytotoxic amount of: ##STR1## Wherein R represents Ac or H; R' represents: ##STR2## OH; and R" represents: ##STR3## these new compounds demonstrate surprising tubulin binding activity and cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Antineoplastic taxol derivatives are derived by selective oxidation of the alkene portion of the side chain of cephalomannine. The derivative displays high activity in promoting assembly of microtubulin and also displays cytotoxic activity against malignant cells.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing cephalomannine and related taxanes in the presence of taxol is described. The process involves the use of ozone which is able to oxidize cephalomannine and easily oxidizable taxanes while leaving taxol essentially unchanged. Taxol can then be separated from the oxidized cephalomannine and other oxidized taxanes using conventional procedures. A process for oxidizing taxanes is also provided.