Abstract: A range of aziridin-1-yl nitrobenzamides are provided for use as prodrugs in conjunction with nitroreductase (NR) enzymes. The amides may have 1 or 2-substituents which may be bulky and polar. For example, 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-N-[2-(4-morpholino)ethyl]-2,4-dinitrobenzamide of Formula (A) was found to be highly active against all NR+ cell lines tested.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formulae (I) and (II), where X in formula (I) represents a group cleavable by a nitroreductase or carboxypeptidase enzyme. Enzymatic activation of the compounds provide pharmaceutical compounds which may be used for the treatment of neoplastic disease.

Abstract: The invention provides nitroaniline derivatives represented by general formula (1) where the nitro group is substituted at any one of the available benzene positions 2-6; where R and A separately represent the groups NO.sub.2, CN,COOR.sup.1, CONR.sup.1 R.sup.2, CSNR.sup.1 R.sup.2 or SO.sub.2 NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 and A is substituted at any one of the available benzene positions 2-6; where B represents N(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 halogen).sub.2 or N(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OSO.sub.2 R.sup.3).sub.2 substituted at any one of the available benzene positions; and where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 separately represent H, or lower alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl, ether, carboxy or amino functions, including cyclic structures, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the nitrogen form a heterocyclic structure, and pharmaceutical preparations containing them. These compounds have activity as hypoxia-selective cytotoxins, reductively-activated prodrugs for cytotoxins, hypoxic cell radiosensitisers, and anticancer agents.

Abstract: Nitrobenzyl mustard quaternary salts of formula (I), ##STR1## and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, process for their manufacture and their chemotherapeutic use as hypoxia selective cytotoxic agents. Wherein, X represents a linker chain --CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 -- or CR.sub.1 .dbd.CR.sub.2-- (where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are separately H, lower alkyl, phenyl or nitrophenyl; Y is halogen or OSO.sub.2 R; Q is lower alkyl (optionaly substituted with alkyl and/or ether groups and containing up to 6 carbons) or nitrophenyl; Ar represents a mono- or bicyclic aromatic unit, R is lower alkyl optionally substituted with alkyl and/or other groups, and may contain up to eight carbon atoms. Z represents one or more of the groups NO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 R, CONHR, R, OR, SR, CF.sub.3 and aza (ring --CH.dbd.replaced by --N.dbd.); with the proviso that when H-Cl or Br, Q=Me, and X=CH.sub.2 -- then Ar.noteq.2-nitrophenyl or 4-nitrophenyl.