Anti-cancer agents
Described herein are compounds that may be selectively activated to produce active anti-cancer agents in tumor cells. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating cancer using the compounds.
1. A compound of formula (I):
wherein:
each R 1 is independently —B(XR′) 2 , wherein each X is independently selected from O and S, and each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl, or two R′ are taken together to form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered ring;
each R 2 is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, alkoxy, amino, halo, and —CH 2 —N(R a ) 3 ⊕;
each R 3 is independently selected from:
each R 4a and R 4b is independently selected from halo and —OSO 2 R a ;
each Y is independently a bond or —CH 2 —;
each R 5 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl;
n is 0, 1 or 2;
p is 1 or 2;
each R a is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl;
wherein if the compound of formula (I) bears a positive charge, it further comprises at least one counterion Z⊖.
2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from:
3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 .
4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of:
5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of:
6. The compound of claim 1 , wherein n is 0.
7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein n is 1.
8. The compound of claim 7 , wherein R 2 is methyl.
9. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is selected from the group consisting of:
wherein each R 4a and R 4b is independently selected from chloro, bromo, and —OSO 2 CH 3 .
10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: