Abstract: The invention addresses radioresistance in cancer treatment involving radiotherapy and, in particular, limitations associated with the use of the drug sulfasalazine. Specifically, it provides a series of compounds for use as radiosensitizers in the treatment of cancers such as glioblastomas which are lethal and inherently resistant to radiotherapy. In one embodiment, the invention provides compounds of general formula (I), their stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts for use as radiosensitizers in the treatment of cancer: wherein ring A is selected from optionally substituted phenyl, biphenyl and fluorenyl; each X is independently selected from: —C1-6 alkyl (preferably C1-3 alkyl, e.g. —CH3), —O—C1-6 alkyl (preferably —O—C1-3 alkyl, e.g. —OCH3), —S—C1-6 alkyl (preferably —S—C1-3 alkyl, e.g. —SCH3), —OH, —SH, —CO2R1 (where R1 is H or C1-6 alkyl, preferably C1-3 alkyl, e.g. —CH3), —SO2—C1-6 alkyl (preferably —SO2—C1-3 alkyl, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new process for the preparation of 1,4-benzoquiones of formula (II) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of branched or unbranched C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl and benzyl, wherein phenyl and benzyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituent independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl and halogen, and wherein C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen susbstituents, and wherein R2 and R3 together can form a C1-C6-alkylene radical, optionally substituted by one or more susbstituents independently selected from the group comprising C1-C6, benzyl, phenyl and halogen. One preferred compound is 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-[1,4]benzoquinone, also known as coenzyme Q0 (CoQ0). Also disclosed are novel compounds and intermediates, and a method for the preparation of coenzyme Qn, preferable the coenzyme Q10.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an organic iodinated X-ray contract agent, characterized in that process control comprises vibrational (e.g., infrared, Raman or preferably near-infrared) spectroscopic monitoring of the reaction mixture in at least one of the process steps, preferably one of the final reaction steps.