METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MAYTANSINOIDS

摘要

Method for the Production of Maytansinoids Maytansinoid compounds are produced by contacting in the presence of a carbodiimide the compound maytansinol with an acid of the formula: (II) wherein R is lower alkyl, to yield the desired maytansinoids having the resultant formula: (I) wherein R is lower alkyl. The maytansinoids (I) are both antifungal agents and also antitumor agents. The D-form (with respect to asymmetry at the 2'position) of the maytansinoids (I) represents a new class of compounds having antifungal and antitumor properties.