Reagents and method for conjugating biological molecules

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

X—[NH—CO—Ar—W—(CH═CH) n —CH═CH 2 ] m   (Va)

in which X represents a polymer; W represents a keto group; n represents 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4; m represents an integer of from 1 to 8; and Ar represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group.

2. 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.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 , in which X is a polyalkylene glycol.

4. A process as claimed in claim 3 , in which X is a polyethylene glycol.

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

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , 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 , —NH 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.

7. A process as claimed in claim 6 , in which Ar represents a phenyl group.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which said molecule is a peptide or a protein.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the compound of formula V has the formula: