We have described in WO-A-2003062290 (unpublished at the priority date hereof) the concept of taking a biologically active drug molecule and reacting it with a compund so as to functionalise it with an appropriate brominated moiety. The modified drug is capable of initiating an atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) with monomers such as 2- methacryloyloxyethyl-2'-trimethylammonium ethyl phosphate inner salt. The compound 2-bromo-2-methyl propionic acid bromide is one such bromine- functionalising agent, the acid bromide portion reacting with any active hydroxyl group on the drug compound to produce a brominated analogue of a methacrylate moiety that has been shown to be eminently suitable for initiating ATRP (see works of Matyjaszewski, Armes and Haddleton). With this functionalising agent, this reaction is only possible in cases where the drug molecule and the 2-bromo, 2-methyl propionic acid bromide are both soluble in some organic solvent that is not reactive towards the acid bromide. In that specification we also describe a bromine-functionalising agent which is used to acylate an amine group, namely of a protein. The subject matter has a common priority date as claims of the present case and of example 4 herein.

It may be desirable to functionalise large biological entities such as proteins and antibodies with polymers. Roche and Schering-Plough both have on the market successful interferon-based products that have been modified by PEGylation of the biological entity. The attachment of polyethylene glycol chains to interferon has improved its plasma half-life (i. e. reduced the rate at which the body removes the antibody from the bloodstream), essentially by reduced renal clearance and lowering opsonisation (protein binding). It is of interest to modify such biological

entities with other polymers, particularly those based on phosphorylcholine because of their enhanced haemocompatibility.

In US 6,310, 149 ATRP processes are described in which the initiator comprises a functional group which is a derivative of an organic acid. The acid may be a carboxylic acid or alternatively a phosphorus based acid or sulphonic acid. Examples of initiators are esters of various acids.

Monomers which are polymerised include methylmethacrylate, styrene, benzylmethacrylate and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. The polymerisations appear to be solvent-free, that is liquid monomer is the liquid medium for the polymerisation reaction.

Wang, J-S, et al in Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 73 (1995) 416 to 417 describe the use of bis-functional initiators for ATRP, whereby the residual group derived from the initiator may be used in subsequent reactions.

Examples of end groups or precursors thereof are carboxyl groups, hydroxyl groups and cyano groups.

The present invention relates to a new process for forming a biologically active conjugate compound comprising a conjugation step in which a biologically active starting material of the general formula I is reacted in an amide bond forming step with a reagent of the general formula 11 to form an amide-linked conjugate, in which R is a biologically active moiety; L'is a bond or a divalent organic linker ; and

X1 is -NHR6 or -COR7, in which R6 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, aryl or an amine activating group and R7 is hydroxyl or a carboxyl activating group; X2 is selected from the group consisting of a polymer formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers and joined through a terminal group, Cl, Br, I, OR10, SR14, SeR14, OP (=O) R14, OP (=O) (OR14)2, O-N(R14)2 and S- C (=S) N (R14) 2, where RIO is alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms in which each of the hydrogen atoms may be independently replaced by halide, R14 is aryl or a straight or branched Cl-C20 alkyl group, and where an N (R14) 2 group is present, the two R14 groups may be joined to form a 5-or 6-membered heterocyclic ring; R'and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, C (=O) R", C (=O) NR'6R17, COCI, OH, CN, C2-C20 alkenyl, oxiranyl, glycidyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl and aralkenyl, in any of which the alkyl, alkenyl or aryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl groups there may be from 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy C1-C4 alkoxy, acyloxy, aryl, heterocyclyl, C (=O) R, C (=O) NR16R17, oxyranyl and glycidyl ; R'5 is alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, oligo (alkoxy) in which each alkoxy group has 1 to 3 carbon atoms, aryloxy or heterocyclyloxy any of which groups may have substituents selected from optionally substituted alkoxy, oligoalkoxy, amino (including mono--and di-alkyl amino and trialkyl ammonium, which alkyl groups, in turn may have substituents selected from acyl, acyloxy, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoxycarbonyl, aryl and hydroxy), and hydroxyl groups; R16 and R17 are independently H or alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms which alkyl groups, in turn may have substituents selected from alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoxycarbonyl, aryl and hydroxy, or R16 and R" may be joined together to form an alkanediyl group of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, thus forming a 3-to 6-membered ring.

R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, and C1-6 alkyl or R3 and Together are = 0 or =NR8 where R8 is hydrogen or Cl-4 alkyl ;

R5 is a bond,-O-,-S-or a divalent organic group; L2 is a bond or a divalent linker and, where X1 is NHR6, X3 iS CoR7 and where XI is coR7 X3 is NHR6 and r is an integer of at least 1.

In the conjugation reaction an amide bond is formed from the reaction of the carboxyl functionality CoR7 and the amine functionality-NHR6, of X1 and X3. Known activating agents may be used to assist the formation of the amide bond, such as carbodiimides and/or N-hydroxysuccinimide.

Preferably R7 is an N-succinimidyloxy group. R6 may be a C1-6 alkyl or aryl group, but is preferably hydrogen.

Preferably the conjugation reacting step is carried out in a protic solvent e. g. a lower alkanol and/or, most preferably, water.

Where X2 is other than a polymer chain, the amide conjugate product may be used as an initiator for an atom-or group transfer radical polymerisation reaction.

The ethylenically unsaturated monomers used in such a polymerisation may be any which may be codissolved with the amide in a suitable solvent for such a polymerisation, such as an organic or aqueous solvent. The invention is of most utility for polymerising hydrophilic monomers, that is which are soluble in water, lower alkanols (C1-4-alkanols, including glycols) or glycol ethers. The polymerisation is generally conducted in the presence of one of these solvents, in which the monomers are dissolved. Conveniently the solvent includes water.

Suitable monomers have the general formula III

in which R23 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, Cl-4 alkyl and groups CoOR27 in which R27 is hydrogen and C1-4 alkyl ; R24 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen and C1-4 alkyl ; R25 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, Cl-4 alkyl and groups COOR27 provided that R23 and R25 are not both COOR27 ; and R26 is selected from the group consisting of C1 10 alkyl, C1 20 alkoxycarbonyl, mono-and d'- (Cl-20 alkyl) amino carbonyl, C6-20 aryl (including alkaryl), C7-20 aralkyl, C6-20 aryloxycarbonyl, C7-20- aralkyloxycarbonyl, C6-20 arylamino carbonyl, C7-20 aralkyl-amino carbonyl, hydroxyl and carboxylic C2 10 acyloxy groups, any of which may have one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, alkoxy, oligo-alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, acylamino, amine (including mono and di-alkyl amino and trialkylammonium in which the alkyl groups may be substituted), carboxyl, sulphonyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, (including mono- and di-alkyl phosphine and tri-alkylphosphonium), zwitterionic, hydroxyl, vinyloxycarbonyl and other vinylic and allylic groups, and reactive silyl and silyloxy groups, such as trialkoxysilyl groups; or R26 and R25 or R25 and R23 may together form-CONR28CO in which R21 is a C1 20 alkyl group.

It is preferred for at least two of the groups R23, R24, R25 and R26 to be halogen or, more preferably, hydrogen atoms. Preferably R23 and R24 are both hydrogen atoms. It is particularly preferred that compound of general formula III be a styrene-based or (alk) acrylic based compound. In styrene based compounds R26 represents an aryl group, especially a substituted aryl group in which the substituent is an amino alkyl group, a carboxylate or a sulphonate group. Where the comonomer is an (alk) acrylic type compound, R26 is an alkoxycarbonyl, an alkyl amino carbonyl, or an aryloxy carbonyl group R23 and R24 are each hydrogen and R25 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl. Most preferably in such compounds R26 is a C1 20-alkoxy carbonyl group,

optionally having a hydroxy substituent. (Alk) acrylic compounds are generally methacrylic in which case R25 is methyl.

Preferably the monomers include a zwitterionic monomer having the general formula IV YBX IV in which Y is an ethylenically unsaturated group selected from H2C=CR17- CO-A-, H2C=CR17-C6H4-A1-, H2C=CR17-CH2A18, R2O-CO-CR17=CR17-CO-O, R17CH=CH-CO-O-, R17CH=C(COOR18)CH2-CO-O, A is-O-or NR19 ; A'is selected from a bond, (CH2), A2 and (CH2), S03-in which I is 1 to 12; A2 is selected from a bond, -O-, O-CO-, CO-O, CO-NR'-,-NR'-CO, O- CO-NR'-, NR1-CO-O ; R"is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl ; R19 is hydrogen, Chalky ! or BX R'8 is hydrogen or C14 alkyl ; B is a bond, or a straight branched alkanediyl, alkylen oxaalkylene, or alkylene (oligooxalkylene) group, optionally containing one or more fluorine substituents; and X is a zwitterionic group.

Preferably X is an ammonium, phosphonium, or sulphonium phosphate or phosphonate ester zwitterionic group, more preferably a group of the general formula V

in which the moieties A3 and A4, which are the same or different, are- O-,-S-,-NH-or a valence bond, preferably-0-, and W+ is a group comprising an ammonium, phosphonium or sulphonium cationic group and a group linking the anionic and cationic moieties which is preferably a C112- alkanediyl group, preferably in which W+ is a group of formula -W1-N+R320, -W1-P+R321, -W1-S+R221 or -W1-Het+ in which: W1 is alkanediyl of 1 or more, preferably 2-6 carbon atoms optionally containing one or more ethylenically unsaturated double or triple bonds, disubstituted-aryl (arylen), alkylen arylen, arylene alkylen, or alkylen aryl alkylene, cycloalkanediyl, alkylene cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl alkylene or alkylene cycloalkyl alkylene, which group W'optionally contains one or more fluorine substituents and/or one or more functional groups; and either the groups R20 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methyl, or aryl, such as phenyl, or two of the groups R20 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form an aliphatic heterocyclic ring containing from 5 to 7 atoms, or the three groups R20 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached as heteroaromatic ring having 5 to 7 atoms, either of which rings may be fused with another saturated or unsaturated ring to form a fused ring structure containing from 5 to 7 atoms in each ring, and optionally one or more of the groups R20 is substituted by a hydrophilic functional group, and the groups R21 are the same or different and each is R20 or a group OR20, where R2° is as defined above; or Het is an aromatic nitrogen-, phosphorus-or sulphur-, preferably nitrogen-, containing ring, for example pyridine.

Monomers in which X is of the general formula in which W+ is W1N@R2°3 may be made as described in our earlier specification WO-A- 9301221. Phosphonium and sulphonium analogues are described in WO-A- 9520407 and WO-A-9416749.

Generally a group of the formula V has the preferred general formula Vl where the groups R22 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or Cl-4 alkyl, and m is from 1 to 4, in which preferably the groups R22 are the same preferably methyl.

In phosphobetaine based groups, X may have the general formula VII in which As is a valence bond, -O-, -S- or -NH-, preferably -O-; R9 is a valence bond (together with A5) or alkanediyl,-C (O) alkylene- or-C (O) NH alkylene preferably alkanediyl, and preferably containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkanediyl chain; W2 is S, PR30 or NR30 ; the or each group R30 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or the two groups R30 together with the heteroatom to which they are attached form a heterocyclic ring of 5 to 7 atoms; R31 is alkanediyl of 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10, more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms; A6 is a bond, NH, S or 0, preferably 0 ; and R32 is a hydroxyl, C1-12 alkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C7-18 aralkyl, C7-18 -aralkoxy, C618 aryl or C618 aryloxy group.

Monomers comprising a group of the general formula VII may be made by methods as described in JP-B-03-031718, in which an amino substituted monomer is reacted with a phospholane.

In compounds comprising a group of the general formula VII, it is preferred that A5 is a bond; R29 is a C26 alkanediyl ; W2 is NR7 : each R7 is C14 alkyl ; R31 is C2-6 alkanediyl ; A6 is O ; and R32 is C14 alkoxy.

Alternatively X may be a zwitterion in which the anion comprises a sulphate, sulphonate or carboxylate group.

One example of such a group is a sulphobetaine group, of the general formula VIII where the groups R33 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or Cl-4 alkyl and s is from 2 to 4.

Preferably the groups R33 are the same. It is also preferable that at least one of the groups R33 is methyl, and more preferable that the groups R33 are both methyl.

Preferably s is 2 or 3, more preferably 3.

Another example of a zwitterionic group having a carboxylate group is an amino acid moiety in which the alpha carbon atom (to which an amine group and the carboxylic acid group are attached) is joined through a linker group to the backbone of the biocompatible polymer. Such groups may be represented by the general formula IX

in which A7 is a valence bond,-O-,-S-or-NH-, preferably-O-, R34 is a valence bond (optionally together with A7) or alkanediyl,- C (O) alkylene- or-C (O) NHalkylene, preferably alkanediyl and preferably containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and the groups R35 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methyl, or two or three of the groups R35, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring of from 5 to 7 atoms, or the three group R35 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a fused ring heterocyclic structure containing from 5 to 7 atoms in each ring.

Another example of a zwitterion having a carboxylate group is a carboxy betaine-N#(R36)2(CH2)uCOO# in which the R36 groups are the same or different and each is hydrogen or C14 alkyl and u is 2 to 6, preferably 2 or 3.

In the zwitterionic monomer of the general formula IV it is preferred that the ethylenic unsaturated group Y is H2C=CR"-CO-A-. Such (alk) acrylic moieties are preferably methacrylic, that is in which R17 is methyl, or acrylic, in which R17 is hydrogen. Whilst the compounds may be (alk) acrylamido compounds, that is in which A is NR'9, in which case R'9 is preferably hydrogen, or less preferably, methyl, most preferably the compounds are esters, that is in which A is O.

In monomers of the general formula IV, especially where Y is the preferred (alk) acrylic group, B is most preferably an alkanediyl group.

Whilst some of the hydrogen atoms of such group may be substituted by fluorine atoms, preferably B is an unsubstituted alkanediyl group, most preferably a straight chain group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

A particularly preferred zwitterionic monomer is 2- methacryloyloxyethyl-2'-trimethylammonium ethyl phosphate inner salt (MPC).

Another suitable monomer is a compound which is a mono-, di-, or oligo- hydroxy C2-6 alkyl(alk) acrylate or -(alk)acrylamide, an oligo (ethoxy) alkyl (alk) acrylate or acrylamide or a N, N-dimethyl (alk) acrylamide.

Where X2 is a polymer chain the reagent of the general formula 11 may be made in a preliminary polymerisation step in which ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerised in the presence of an initiator of the general formula XI in which X3, L2 and R1 to R5 are as defined in relation to general formula 11 and X4 is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, OR51, SR52, SeR52, OP (=O) R52, OP (=O) (OR52) 2, O-N (R52) 2 and S-C (=S) N (R52) 2, where R51 is alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms in which each of the hydrogen atoms may be independently replaced by halide, R52 is aryl or a straight or branched Ci- C20 alkyl group, and where an N (R52)2 group is present, the two R52 groups may be joined to form a 5-or 6-membered heterocyclic ring.

In this atom or group transfer radical polymerisation process the ethylenically unsaturated monomers which are polymerised may be of the same type as are described above in relation to polymerisation processes in which the amide conjugate is used as the initiator.

A group or atom transfer radical polymerisation is carried out in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises a transition metal salt and a ligand.

The transition metal compound which comprises a component of the catalyst is Mqn+X5qf where:

Mtq+ may be selected from the group consisting of Cu1+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ru2+, Ru3+, Cr2+, Cr3+, Mo2+, Mo3+, W2+, W3+, Mn2+, Mn3+, MN4+, Rh3+, Rh4+, Re2+, Re3+, Co+, Co2+, Co3+, V2+, V3+, Zn+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Ni3+, Au+, Au2+, Ag+ and Ag2+ ; X5 is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C6-alkoxy, (SO4) 2, (PO4)1/3, (R18PO4)½,(R218PO4), triflate, hexafluorophosphate, methanesulphonate, arylsulphonate, CN and R'9CO2, where R18 is aryl or a straight or branched C1-20 alkyl and R'9 is H or a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl group which may be substituted from 1 to 5 times with a halogen ; and q is the formal charge on the metal (0 # n # 7).

Preferably X5 is halide, most preferably chloride or bromide.

Particularly suitable transition metal compounds are based on copper or ruthenium, for instance CuCl or Rugi2.

In the catalyst, the ligand is preferably selected from the group consisting of: a) compounds of the formulas: R37-Z-R38 and R37-Z- (R39-z) p-R38 where: R37 and R38 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl and Cl-C6 alkoxy, Cl-C4 dialkylamino, C (=0) R40, C (=O) R41R42 and A3C (=0) R43, where A3 may be NR44 or O ; R40 is alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryloxy or heterocyclyloxy ; R41 and R42 are independently H or alkyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or R41 and R42 may be joined together to form an alkanediyl group of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, thus forming a 3-to 6-membered ring; R43 is H, straight or branched C1-C20 alkyl or aryl and R44 is hydrogen, straight or branched C1-20-alkyl or aryl ; or R37 and R33 may be joined to form, together with Z, a saturated or unsaturated ring;

Z is O, S, NR45 or PR46, where R46 is selected from the same group as R37 and R38, and where Z is PR46, R46 can also C1-C20 alkoxy or Z may be a bond, CH2 or a fused ring, where one or both of R37 and R38 is heterocyclyl, each R39 is independently a divalent group selected from the group consisting of C1-C8 cycloalkanediyl, C1-C8 cycloalkanediyl, arenediyl and heterocyclylene where the covalent bonds to each Z are at vicinal positions or R39 may be joined to one or both of R37 and R38 to formulate a heterocyclic ring system; and p is from 1 to 6; b) CO ; c) porphyrins and porphycenes, which may be substituted with from 1 to 6 halogen atoms, C1-6 alkyl groups, C16-alkoxy groups, Cl-6 alkoxycarbonyl, aryl groups, heterocyclyl groups, and C16 alkyl groups further substituted with from 1 to 3 halogens ; d) compounds of the formula R47R48C (C (=o) R49) 2, where R49 is C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 alkoxy, aryloxy or heterocyclyloxy ; and each of R47 and R48 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, C1-20 alkyl, aryl and heterocyclyl, and R 47 and R 48 may be joined to form a C18 cycloalkyl ring or a hydrogenated aromatic or heterocyclic ring, of which the ring atoms may be further substituted with 1 to 5 C16 alkyl groups, C1-6 alkoxy groups, halogen atoms, aryl groups, or combinations thereof; and e) arenes and cyclopentadienyl ligands, where said cyclopentadienyl ligand may be substituted with from one to five methyl groups, or may be linked through and ethylene or propylene chain to a second cyclopentadienyl ligand.

Selection of a suitable ligand is, for instance, based upon the solubility characteristics and/or the separability of the catalyst from the product polymer mixture. Generally the catalyst is soluble in the liquid reaction mixture, although under some circumstances it may be possible to immobilise the catalyst, for instance on a porous substrate. For the preferred process, which is carried out in the liquid phase, the ligand is soluble in a liquid phase. The ligand is generally a nitrogen containing ligand. The preferred ligand may be a compound including a pyridyl group and an imino moiety, such as bipyridine, or

where R50 is a suitable alkyl group, the substituent being variable and adaptable to confer desired solubility characteristics or may be triphenylphosphine or 1,1, 4,7, 10, 10-hexamethyl-triethylene tetramine.

Such nitrogen-containing ligands are usefully used in combination with copper (I) chloride, copper (I) bromide or ruthenium chloride transition metal compounds as part of the catalyst.

The atom or group transfer radical polymerisation process of the invention is preferably carried out to achieve a degree of polymerisation in the range 2 to 100. Preferably the degree of polymerisation is in the range 5 to 50, more preferably in the range 10 to 25. In the preferred group or atom transfer radical polymerisation technique, the degree of polymerisation is directly related to the initial ratios of initiator to monomer. Preferably the ratio is in the range 1: (2 to 100), more preferably in the range of 1: (5 to 50), most preferably in the range 1: (10 to 25).

The ratio of metal compound and ligand in the catalyst should be approximately stoichiometric, based on the ratios of the components when the metal ion is fully complexed. The ratio should preferably be in the range 1: (0.5 to 2) more preferably in the range 1: (0.8 to 1.25). Preferably the range is about 1: 1.

In the process, the catalyst may be used in amounts such that a molar equivalent quantity as compared to the level of initiator is present. However, since catalyst is not consumed in the reaction, it is generally not essential to

include levels of catalyst as high as of initiator. The ratio of catalyst (based on transition metal compound) to initiator is preferably in the range 1: (1 to 50), more preferably in the range 1: (1 to 10).

In the invention R5 is, for instance, a group joined to the carbon atom to which RI and R4 are joined through an oxygen atom, a group-NR8-where R3 is hydrogen or Cl-4 alkyl, a carboxyl (provided that R3 and R4 together are not =0) or a alkyl carbon atom or aryl carbon atom. It may additionally comprise an alkanediyl group, cycloalkane-diyl, an oligo (alkoxy) alkyl, arylene or alkarylene group. At the end joined to L2 it may comprise-0-,-S-, - CO-or NR$ or may be joined to L through an aromatic or aliphatic carbon atom.

Linkers L'and/or L2 may comprise, for instance, the residue of a bifunctional linking reagent such as an oligo peptide, a compound having two similar functionalities, such as isocyanates epoxides hydroxyl, thiols, amines, carboxyls, aldehydes, or two different functionalities selected from the same list. Preferably where L'and/or L2 is other than a bond, it is the residue of a hetero-bifunctional linking reagent especially a reagent comprising one carboxylic functionality and an amide, hydroxy or phenol functionality.

The invention allows conjugation of an biologically active moiety R to a polymer or initiator precursor of a polymer, using well understood conjugation reactions, which may be carried out under relatively mild conditions and with high efficiency, to form conjugates having controllable solubility, bioavailability, stability or delivery and targeting characteristics.

For instance protein actives may be rendered more stable by conjugation to hydrophilic polymers, especially polymers having pendant zwitterionic groups. The active may, for instance be an antibody or fragment thereof, a cytokine, such as an integer or, a peptide therapeutic, a hormone, an enzyme. The polymer conjugated moiety may be cleavable after delivery, for instance where it is conjugated at an active site, or may be substantially non- cleavable provided the activity of the biologically active compound is not

deleteriously affected. The biologically active moiety may be linked to. L'X' through functional pendant groups or terminal groups. On peptides the pendant groups may be side chains on amino acyl residues, especially amine, hydroxyl thiol or carboxyl groups. Similarly, on such compounds the terminal groups are amino groups or carboxyl groups. Since r may be greater than 1, this indicates that more than one of the potentially reactive functional pendant or terminal groups may be provided with L'X'groups for subsequent conjugation.

Preliminary steps of attaching linkers and groups X'to biologically active molecules, including methods for controlling the site of the attachment, by suitable protection and activation strategies, are known and may be used herein.

The present invention also provides a conjugate of the general formula XII where B1 is-CONR6-or-NR6-CO- t is in the range 1 to r; and R, L', L2, R'to R5and X2 are as defined above, as well as compositions comprising the compound and the compound for use in a method of treatment or diagnosis. The value of t may be an integer but need not be an integer as it will represent the average level of derivatisation across the population. Where t = r the biologically active molecule is fully derivatised.

The compound of formula Xll, especially where it contains a linker L or L2, may be formed in an alternative sequence of steps in which the biologically active compound is conjugated to an intermediate reagent by a process other than amide bond formation. For instance the intermediate

may be formed in a preliminary reaction in which the bond Bu ils formed. An example is described below in Example 4. The process of the first aspect of the invention is the preferred route for synthesising XII.

The invention also provides a polymerisation process in which ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerised by atom or group radical transfer polymerisation in the presence of an initiation selected from 4- (3- (2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester and 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester. The monomers in the polymerisation are preferably as defined above in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

The polymerisation is conducted in the same preferred solvents, preferably including water.

The compound 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester is believed to be a new compound and is thus claimed herein.

Polymer-biologically active compound conjugates may be useful pharmaceutical eg as the compound may be a prodrug. The conjugation may be used to control the solubility biological availability, stability, immunogenicity or other physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the biologically active compound.

The invention is illustrated in the following examples: in which we describe a method by which the 2-bromo, 2-methyl propionic acid bromide can be converted in the first instance to a water- soluble and reactive analogue that can be subsequently used to modify biological entities in aqueous media in order to prepare initiators for ATRP.

The aqueous-reactive initiator can be attached to the biological molecule and then the entire entity used to initiate ATRP in water, or alternatively, the reactive initiator itself can be used to grow a polymer chain with a reactive functionality, which can be subsequently reacted with the biological entity in a later reaction to form the polymer-modified molecule.

Example 1a Preparation of 4- (3- (2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)- propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester To a solution of 4- (3-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid (a) in acetonitrile, TMEDA (0.55 equiv) is added and stirred at room temperature for about 5 min. A solution of 2-bromo, 2-methyl propionic acid bromide (b) (1.5 equivalent) in acetonitrile is slowly added. After about 15 min of addition a white precipitate should be observed in the reaction vessel. After addition of the acid bromide (about 30 min), the reaction was stirred for a further 60 min approximately. The reaction mixture is filtered and the solvent was removed in vacuo to yield 4- (3- (2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic ester) phenyl)- propionic acid (c).

To a solution of 4- (3- (2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)-propionic acid (1 equivalent) in THF, N-hydroxy succinimde (1.05 equivalents) and dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide (d) (1.05 equivalents) is added at-18° C and stirred for about 2h. The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for a further 10 h approximately. The reaction is worked up as described by Rutinger & Ruegg in Biochem J. , 133 (3), 538,1973 to yield 4- (3- (2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester (e).

Example 1b Preparation of 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester To a solution of 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid (a1) (1 equivalent) in THF, N-hydroxy succinimde (1.05 equivalents) and dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide (d) (1.05 equivalents) is added at-18° C and stirred for about 2h. The reaction is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for about a further 10 h.

The reaction is worked up as described by Rutinger & Ruegg in Biochem J., 133 (3), 538,1973 to yield 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester (e1).

Example 2 ATRP using a Lysozyme-modified Initiator a) To a suspension of 4- (3- (2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide (e) ester in borate buffer, lysozyme is added and the resulting mixture gently shaken at room temperature for about 8 h. The initiator (f) was used without isolation.

Lysozyme-NH2 Br O -4 0 0, 0 Ber 7 0 Br 0 0 -- O

b) The initiator solution is purged with nitrogen for about 30 min, and then copper bromide catalyst and the bipyridyl ligand added. The solution is further purged with nitrogen, and MPC added (50 x catalyst concentration, target Mn 15 000). The green reaction mixture was stirred for about 8 h at room temperature. The reaction is monitored by NMR aliquots, for consumption of the MPC methacrylate groups. The reaction mixture is analysed and product (g) purified by Capillary Electrophoresis. The conjugated lysozyme may be tested for its activity by a standard assay. -ie ' (g) 0 0 ? O (9) pO~ PC o l PC PU / 0 0 NH-LysoMm o-0-/ Example 3 ATRP using the 4- (3- (2-bromo-2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)- propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester a) The initiator solution (4- (3- (2-bromo-2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)- propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (e) in methanol) is purged with nitrogen for about 30 min, and then copper bromide catalyst and the bipyridyl ligand added. The solution was further purged with nitrogen, and MPC added (50 x catalyst concentration, target Mn 15 000). The green reaction mixture is stirred for about 8 h at room temperature. The reaction is

monitored by NMR aliquots, for consumption of the MPC methacrylate groups. The reaction mixture is purified on a silica gel column to yield 4- (3- (2-poly-Pm, 2-methyl-propionate) phenyl)-propionic acid N- hydroxysuccinimide ester (h). b) To a suspension of 4- (3- (2-poly-Pm, 2-methyl- propionate) phenyl)-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester in borate buffer, lysozyme is added and the resulting mixture stirred at room temperature for about 12 h. The reaction mixture is again analysed and the product (g) purified by Capillary Electrophoresis. The activity of the conjugated lysozyme may be determined by a standard assay.

Example 4 N-butyraldehyde 2-bromoisobutylamide 11 OCzHg o Br+CBr + NHz-CHzCH2CH2CH 1. THF, Triethylamine Br-j-C-NH-CHCHZCHzCHO \ 2. CF3COOH, THF-wate/r 0 0 MPC O CuBr/bpy im (MPC) N/C-NH-CH2CH2CH2CHO 5n=50 6n=100

To 100ml of dry THF, 8.1 g (0.05 mol) 4-aminobutyraldehyde diethyl acetal and 8.4 ml (0.06 mol) triethylamine were added. The reaction flask was kept in ice-water bath, and 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (7. 5ml, 0.06 mol) was added dropwise by a syringe over 30 min. The reaction was then stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The white amine halide salt precipitate was filtered off by Buchner funnel. After evaporating half of the THF under reduced pressure, the filtered THF solution was treated with 25 ml of 20% trifluoroacetic acid aqueous solution overnight to cleave the diethyl acetal protection group. The mixture was neutralised by addition of 5% of NaHCO3 water solution to pH 8, and the product aldehyde was extracted three times by 50 ml DCM each time. After evaporation of DCM, a red-yellow liquid was obtained. Further purification was carried out by silicon column using DCM as eluent. The final product is colorless liquid, and stored at-20°C freezer.

The product may be conjugated to lysozyme by a reductive amination process in which a Schiff base is formed. This general technique is known for derivatising proteins having available primary amine groups.