The invention provides compounds of general formula (I), wherein: X is halogen or OSO.sub.2 R, where R represents H or is unsubstituted or hydroxy-or amino-substituted lower alkyl; Y is a nitro or amine group or a substituted derivative thereof; W is selected from the structures of formulae (Ia, Ib or Ic), where E is --N.dbd. or --CH.dbd., G is O, S, or NH, and Q is either up to three of R, OR, NRR, NO.sub.2, CONHR, NHCOR or NHCONHR, or is an additional group of formulae (Ia, Ib or Ic) and HET represents a 5- or 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle; and A and B collectively represent a fused benzene or 2-CO.sub.2 R pyrrole ring. In one embodiment, the group Y is an amine derivative substituted by a group which is a substrate for a nitroreductase or carboxypeptidase enzyme such that one of said enzymes is able to bring about removal of that group. ##STR1##
该发明提供了一般式(I)的化合物,其中:X是卤素或
OSO.sub.2 R,其中R代表H或未取代或羟基或
氨基取代的较低烷基;Y是一个硝基或胺基团或其取代衍
生物;W从式(Ia、Ib或Ic)的结构中选择,其中E为--N.dbd.或--CH.dbd.,G为O、S或NH,Q为R、OR、NRR、NO.sub.2、CONHR、NHCOR或NHCONHR中的最多三个,或者是式(Ia、Ib或Ic)的附加基团,HET代表一个5-或6-成员的
碳环或杂环;A和B共同代表一个融合的
苯或2-CO.sub.2 R
吡咯环。在一个实施例中,基团Y是由一种基团取代的胺衍
生物,该基团是一种硝基还原酶或羧肽酶酶的底物,使得其中一种酶能够去除该基团。