Compounds of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is each independently hydrogen or a group easily hydrolyzable under physiological conditions; R.sup.2 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -cycloalkyl wherein cycloalkyl contains 3 to 5 carbon atoms and n is an integer from 0 to 4, heteroaryl-(lower-alkyl), (lower-alkoxy)-(lower-alkyl), aryloxy-(lower-alkyl), aralkyloxy-(lower-alkyl), (lower-alkylthio)-(lower-alkyl), arylthio-(lower-alkyl), aralkylthio-(lower-alkyl), oxo-(lower-alkyl), acylamino-(lower-alkyl), cyclic amino-(lower-alkyl), (2-oxocyclic amino)-(lower-alkyl) wherein the alkylene chain is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two lower-alkyl group(s); and R.sup.3 is iodo, or a vinyl or ethynyl group which group is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, carbocyclic aromatic ring and heteorcyclic aromatic ring. The compounds of formula I are useful in the treatment of malignant diseases and can also be administered together with 5-fluorouracil or derivatives thereof to enhance the antitumour activity of the latter.
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of vinyl pyrimidines of the formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a carboxylic ester group, and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a group of the formula (a) ##STR2## wherein R.sup.a is hydrogen, a protecting group or a group easily hydrolyzable under physiological conditions, by reacting a compound of the formula II ##STR3## wherein R.sup.21 is hydrogen or a group (a) wherein hydroxy groups are optionally protected, R.sup.3 is bromo, chloro or iodo, and R.sup.1 is as above, with a vinyl borane compound in the presence of a Pd complex and a base, and optionally, further reacting a product of formula I wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen with a compound of the formula IV ##STR4## wherein R.sup.b is a hydroxy protecting group and Z is a leaving group, in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst.
A conjugate of formula A-L-P, in which: A represents a glycosylated/galactosylated peptide that binds to a cell-surface receptor, L represents a bifunctional linker, which does not comprise a naturally occurring amino acid and is covalently bonded to A and P in a regiospecific manner, and P represents a monomer, homopolymer or heteropolymer comprising at least one nucleotide or an analogue thereof, which inhibits the intracellular biosynthesis of nucleotides or nucleic acids in a sequence-independent manner, wherein either or both of the covalent bond between A and L and the covalent bond between L and P can be cleaved intracellularly; a composition comprising such a conjugate; and a method of inhibiting abnormal cellular proliferation in a mammal; and a method of inhibiting replication of a virus in a mammal.
A conjugate of formula A-L-P, in which: A represents a glycosylated/galactosylated peptide that binds to a cell-surface receptor, L represents a bifunctional linker, which does not comprise a naturally occurring amino acid and is covalently bonded to A and P in a regiospecific manner, and P represents a monomer, homopolymer or heteropolymer comprising at least one nucleotide or an analogue thereof, which inhibits the intracellular biosynthesis of nucleotides or nucleic acids in a sequence-independent manner, wherein either or both of the covalent bond between A and L and the covalent bond between L and P can be cleaved intracellularly; a composition comprising such a conjugate; and a method of inhibiting abnormal cellular proliferation in a mammal; and a method of inhibiting replication of a virus in a mammal.
