Water-soluble polymer-based cantharimides as potentially selective anti-tumor agents

Abstract

A cantharimide compound may include the backbone of formula (1). R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ may be independently selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OR⁵, C(O)R⁶, C(O)NR⁷R⁸, NR⁹C(O)R¹⁰, N--R¹¹R¹², O--R¹³, S--R¹⁴, P(O)(OR¹⁵)(OR¹⁶), As(O)(OR¹⁷)(OR¹⁸), SO₂R¹⁹, SO₃R²⁰, and B(OR²¹). X¹ to X⁴ may be independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and carbon, such that X¹ to X⁴ are not all hydrogen. Y¹, Y² and R⁵ to R²¹ may be independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂-alkyl, -aryl, heteroaryl, and a bioactive polymer.