Derivatives of Variolin B

Abstract

The invention provides antitumour compounds of formula (I), wherein R 1 is an aromatic substituent; R 2 is hydrogen or a substituent when the dotted line is absent, or R 2 is absent when the dotted line represents a bond to give a double bond between the nitrogen which bears R 2 and the carbon which bears R 3 ; R 3 is an oxo group =0 when the dotted line is absent or is a substituent when the dotted line represents a bond to give a double bond between the nitrogen bearing R 2 and the carbon bearing R 3 ; R 4 is hydrogen or a substituent; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method for the treatment of lung cancer, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of variolin B or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A method for the treatment of colon cancer, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of variolin B or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.