Synthesis and biological evaluation of an N10-Psec substituted pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine prodrug

The first example of an N10-protected (e.g., Psec, 15) pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) analogue that retains significant cytotoxicity in a number of tumour cell lines is reported. This prototype could lead to a new generation of clinically useful N10-protected PBD prodrugs.