Reagents and method for conjugating biological molecules

1. A process for the conjugation of a peptide or protein containing a thiol or amino group to a polymer, which comprises reacting said peptide or protein with a compound of the general formula:

X-[Q-W—(CH═CH) n —(CH 2 ) 2 -L] m   (I)

in which X represents a polymer; Q represents a linking group; W represents a keto group CO; n represents 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4; L represents a leaving group; and m represents an integer of from 1 to 8, to produce a conjugate of the general formula:

X-[Q-W—(CH═CH) n —(CH 2 ) 2 —Z] m   (II)

in which Z represents the peptide or protein bonded via a thiol or amino group; and subsequently reducing the keto group CO in the conjugate of the general formula II to produce a compound of the general formula:

X-[Q-CH(OH)—(CH═CH) n —(CH 2 ) 2 —Z] m .

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which said polymer is polyethylene glycol.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 , in which Q represents a direct bond, an alkylene group or an optionally-substituted aryl or heteroaryl group, any of which may be terminated or interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms, sulphur atoms, —NR groups (in which R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl aryl or alkyl-aryl group), keto CO groups, —O—CO-groups, —CO—O— groups, —NR—CO— groups, or a combination thereof.

4. A process as claimed in claim 3 , in which Q represents an optionally-substituted heteroaryl or aryl group terminated adjacent the polymer X by an —NR—CO— group.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which X is a polyalkylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyoxazoline, polyvinylalcohol, polyacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, HPMA copolymer, polyester, polyacetal, poly(ortho ester), polycarbonate, poly(imino carbonate), polyamide, copolymer of divinylether-maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride, polysaccharide, or protein.

6. A process as claimed in claim 5 , in which X is a polyalkylene glycol.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which n is 0.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which L represents —SR, —SO 2 R, —OSO 2 R, —N + R 3 , —N + HR 2 , —N + H 2 R, halogen, or —OØ, in which R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group and Ø represents a substituted aryl group containing at least one electron withdrawing substituent.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which said peptide or protein is reacted with a compound of the general formula:

X—[NH—CO—Ar—W—(CH═CH) n —(CH 2 ) 2 —SO 2 R] m   (Ia)

in which Ar represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group and R′ represents a hydrogen atom or an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group.

10. A process as claimed in claim 9 , in which Ar represents a phenyl group optionally-substituted by one or more of the same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, —CN, —NO 2 , —CO 2 R, —COH, —CH 2 OH, —COR, —OR, —OCOR, —OCO 2 R, —SR, —SOR, —SO 2 R, —NHCOR, —NRCOR, —NHCO 2 R, —NR.CO 2 R, —NO, —NHOH, —NR.OH, —C═N—NHCOR, —C═N—NR.COR, —N + R 3 , —N + H 3 , —N + HR 2 , —N + H 2 R, halogen, —C≡CR, —C═CR 2 , and —C═CHR, in which each R independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkyl-aryl group.

11. A process as claimed in claim 10 , in which Ar represents a phenyl group and R′ represents a p-tolyl group.