Anti-liferative agents comprising substituted benzo[e]pyrido[1,2-a][1,4]diazepines

1. A compound of formula (Ia):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

p is 0 or 1;

when p is 0:

H 1 is C 9 heteroaryl, optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—R 24 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

when p is 1:

H 1 is C 5 heteroaryl, optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—R 24 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

each R 24 is phenyl, optionally substituted with 1, 2, or 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ),—NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 25 is H, C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, or O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 26 is H, C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ),—NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, or O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

each R 11 is independently H or C 1-6 alkyl;

each R 12 is independently H or C 1-6 alkyl;

R 19 is H or (CH 2 ) t —NR 20 R 21 ;

R 20 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

R 21 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

each j is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6;

each k is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6;

t is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6;

L is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) an amino acid;

(ii) a peptide chain having 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 amino acids, wherein the peptide chain is optionally interrupted by one or more atoms or groups independently selected from the group consisting of NH, O, S, phenylene, and C 5-9 heteroarylene;

(iii) —C 1-12 alkylene-, wherein the C 1-12 alkylene optionally contains one or more C—C double bonds or C—C triple bonds, and further wherein the C 1-12 alkylene is optionally interrupted by one or more atoms or groups independently selected from the group consisting of NH, O, S, phenylene, and C 5-9 heteroarylene;

(iv) —(OCH 2 ) 1-12 —, wherein the —(OCH 2 ) 1-12 — is optionally interrupted by one or more atoms or groups independently selected from the group consisting of NH, O, S, phenylene, and C 5-9 heteroarylene; and

(v) —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-6 —, wherein the —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-6 is optionally interrupted by one or more atoms or groups independently selected from the group consisting of NH, O, S, phenylene, and C 5-9 heteroarylene;

X 1 is —CR 13 R 14 —, —CR 13 R 14 O—, —(C═O)—, —(C═O)NR 13 —, —C(═O)O—, —NR 13 (C═O)—, —O—, —O(C═O)—, or —S—;

X 2 is —CR 15 R 16 —, —CR 15 R 16 O—, —(C═O)—, —(C═O)NR 15 —, —(C═O)O—, —NR 15 —, —NR 15 (C═O)—, —O—, —O(C═O)—, or —S—; or

X 2 is absent;

Y 1 is N or CH;

Y 2 is N or CH;

(i) Y 3 is NR 17 , O, or S; and

Y 4 is CH; or

(ii) Y 3 is CH; and

Y 4 is NR 17 , O, or S;

Y 5 is CH, COH, N, or S;

R 13 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

R 14 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

R 15 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

R 16 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

R 17 is H or C 1-6 alkyl; and

AM is formula (XXVII):

wherein:

the dotted line represents either single bonds or one single bond and one double bond;

v is 0 or 1;

when v is 0 and the dotted line represents single bonds, either:

(a) R 1 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl; and

R 2 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl; or

(b) R 1 is absent; and

R 2 is ═C(RD 5 )(RD 6 ), wherein R 2 is attached to C-2; or

(c) R 1 and R 2 are attached to adjacent carbons and together with the carbons to which they are attached, form an aromatic 6-membered ring, substituted with RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , and RD 4 ;

when v is 0 and the dotted line represents one single bond and one double bond, wherein the double bond is between C1 and C2 or between C2 and C3:

R 1 is absent; and

R 2 is C 1-6 alkyl, phenyl, or C 5-9 heteroaryl, wherein the C 1-6 alkyl, phenyl, and C 5-9 heteroaryl are optionally substituted with RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , RD 4 , and RD 7 ;

when v is 1, the dotted line represents single bonds:

R 1 and R 2 are attached to adjacent carbons and together with the carbons to which they are attached, form an aromatic 6-membered ring, substituted with RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , and RD 4 ;

R 3 is H, C 1-12 alkyl, or CH 2 -phenyl;

(i) R 5 is H; and

R 6 is OH or OC 1-6 alkyl; or

(ii) R 5 is SO 3 H; and

R 6 is H; or

(iii) R 5 and R 6 together form a double bond;

RD 1 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl;

RD 2 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl;

RD 3 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl;

RD 4 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl;

RD 5 is H or C 1-6 alkyl;

RD 6 is H or C 1-6 alkyl; and

RD 7 is H, halogen, C 1-6 alkyl, OH, or OC 1-6 alkyl;

with the proviso that at least one of Y 1 and Y 2 is CH.

2. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein L is —C 1-12 alkylene-, wherein the C 1-12 alkylene optionally contains one or more C—C double bonds or C—C triple bonds, and further wherein the C 1-12 alkylene is optionally interrupted by one or more atoms or groups independently selected from the group consisting of NH, O, S, phenylene, and C 5-9 heteroarylene.

3. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

Y 3 is NR 17 ; and

Y 4 is CH.

4. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one, two, three, or all of RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , and RD 4 are independently H.

5. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the compound is of formula (XXIV):

wherein:

(i) Y 8 is NH, O, or S, wherein the NH is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH-phenyl-R 18 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ; and

Y 9 is CH, wherein the CH is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH-phenyl-R 18 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 18 is CO 2 R 11 or NR 11 R 12 ; or

(ii) Y 8 is CH, wherein the CH is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH-phenyl-R 18 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ; and

Y 9 is NH, O, or S, wherein the NH is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH-phenyl-R 18 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

R 18 is CO 2 R 11 or NR 11 R 12 ;

Y 10 is CH or N, wherein the CH is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ),—NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH-phenyl-R 18 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, and O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ; and

each R 18 is independently CO 2 R 11 or NR 11 R 12 .

6. The compound of claim 5 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

Y 8 is NH; and

Y 9 is CH.

7. The compound of claim 5 , wherein the compound is of formula (XXIVa) or formula (XXIVb):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is of formula (XXV) or formula (XXVI):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

Y 11 is NR 27 , O, or S;

Y 12 is CH or N;

R 27 is H, C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, or O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ; and

R 28 is H, C 1-6 alkyl, (CH 2 ) j —CO 2 R 11 , (CH 2 ) j —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 , C(═O)—NH—(CH 2 ) k —C(═NH)NR 11 R 12 , OH, OC 1-6 alkyl, or O—(CH 2 ) k —NR 11 R 12 ;

with the proviso that the heteroaryl containing Y 11 and Y 12 is not indolyl.

9. The compound of claim 8 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

(i) R 25 is H; or

(ii) R 26 is H; or

(iii) R 25 is H; and

R 26 is H.

10. The compound of claim 8 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

(i) R 25 is CH 3 , CO 2 CH 3 , or NH 2 ; and

R 26 is H; or

(ii) R 25 is H; and

R 26 is CH 3 , CO 2 CH 3 , or NH 2 .

11. The compound of claim 8 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 27 is H or CH 3 .

12. The compound of claim 8 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y 11 is S.

13. The compound of claim 8 , wherein the compound is of formula (XXVa) or formula (XXVb):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

14. The compound of claim 8 , wherein the compound is of formula (XXVIa) or formula (XXVIb):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

15. The compound of claim 1 , wherein AM is formula (XXVIIIa), formula (XXVIIIb), or formula (XXVIIIc):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

16. The compound of claim 1 , wherein AM is formula (XXIXa) or formula (XXIXb):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

17. The compound of claim 16 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one, two, three, or all of RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , and RD 4 are independently H.

18. The compound of claim 1 , wherein AM is formula (XXXa), formula (XXXb), or formula (XXXc):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

19. The compound of claim 1 , wherein AM is formula (XXXI):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

20. The compound of claim 1 , wherein AM is formula (XXXII):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

21. The compound of claim 20 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one, two, three, four, or all of RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , RD 4 , and RD 7 are independently H.

22. The compound of claim 20 , wherein AM is formula (XXXIIa) or formula (XXXIIb):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

23. The compound of claim 1 , wherein AM is formula (XXXIII):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

24. The compound of claim 23 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one, two, three, four, or all of RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , RD 4 , and RD 7 are independently H.

25. The compound of claim 23 , wherein AM is formula (XXXIIIa) or formula (XXXIIIb):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein:

one, two, three, four, or all of RD 1 , RD 2 , RD 3 , RD 4 , and RD 7 are independently H.

26. The compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the compound is further linked to a targeting agent to provide a targeting conjugate.

27. The compound of claim 26 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the targeting agent is an antibody.

28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or diluent and a compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

29. A method for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition of claim 26 .

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the patient suffers from a cancer selected from the group consisting of leukemia, melanoma, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, renal cancer, skin cancer, and stomach cancer.