The present invention relates to a method of preparing a diaπinedithiol chelating agent, new 2S2 compounds, and kits for preparing compositions containing these compounds.

Some years ago Rung et al. ( . ucl. Tied. 25 , 326-332, 1984) synthesized some derivatives of the bis-aminoethane-thiol (BAT) ring system to be used as tetradentate ligands for complexing metal ions, in particular Tc-99m for brain imaging. The same compounds are described in European patent application 200211, published in 1986. Other BAT derivatives and their complexing ability are the subject of publications of Burns et al. (European pat. application 163119, published in 1985; J. Nucl. Med. 26, 1287-1294, 1985) and of Efange et al., J. Nucl. Med. 28, 1012-1019, 1987. The last-mentioned BAT derivatives having functional side-groups are especially designed to be capable, after having been coπplexed with Tc-99m, to cross the blood-brain barrier and then to be retained by the brain for sufficient time to permit radioassaying thereof.

All these known BAT derivatives, also called N2S2-compounds because of their tetradentate liganding capacity wherein two N-atoms and two S-atoπs per molecule are involved, are bis(tertiary thiols), i.e. the thiol or mercapto groups are attached to tertiary carbon atoms. Apparently such structures are necessary to enable the Tc-99m complexes to reach the target organ, e.g. , the brain, without metabolic decomposition. In the preparation of these known BAT derivatives or N2S2 ^_ coπ ounds the formation of the two thiol functions by a reductive cleavage of the corresponding disulfide bond ia always the last reaction step. It stands to reason, that the yield in this last reaction step

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

is of paramount importance. As a matter of fact, the disulfide compound, starting substance for this reductive cleavage, has been obtained after a generally complex and consequently expensive series of reaction steps which ultimately lead to the desired side chain functionalized compound. If the reductive cleavage produces the final dithiol compound in an insufficient yield, not only expensive material is lost but also the final dithiol compound needs an extensive and laborious purification to achieve a product with a pharmaceutically acceptable purity _

Said reductive cleavage of tertiary disulfides is investigated in more detail by Corbin and Work: J. Org. Chem. , Vol. _+_L, No. 3, 1976, 489-491. Corbin and Work disclose the resistance of "tertiary disulfides" to reduc¬ tion. These authors recommend a reduction with LiAlH in refluxing te rahydrofuran "as long as reductant- compatible substituents are present". Such reductive conditions cause a serious limitation of the side chain designed for func ionalizing the N2S2- compound , because many of such side chains, e.g. carbonyl-containing groups, or protein or proteinaceous side chains, generally are not resistant to LiAlH.4 and/or to refluxing tetrahydrofuran. In addition, the yield of this reductive cleavage is generally rather poor. The authors mentioned hereinbefore report yields of approximately 50%, apparently dependent on the structure of the starting disulfide occasionally exceeding 60%.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a method of preparing a diaminedithiol chelating agent by reductive cleavage of the corresponding ditertiary disulfide, i.e. a disulfide wherein the sulphur atoms are

TUTE SHEET

attached to tertiary carbon atoms, in which the desired product is obtained in an improved yield. It has been found, that this object can be achieved, in that a compound of the general rmula

wherein Z, Z^ , Z and Z3 are equal or different and represent methylene groups, if desired substituted with one or two C^-C^ alkyl group(s) , or carbonyl groups ; m is 0 or 1 ; n is 0 or 1 ;

R is a hydrogen atom or a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with a pharmaceutically acceptable target specific group, derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of a protein or proteinaceous substance, a receptor binding agent and an amino compound, or with a group permitting derivatization to a target specific group, said group permitting derivatization being selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an aldehyde group, a carboxy group and an activated ester grou ;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

R^ is a hydrogen atom or a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with said pharmaceu¬ tically acceptable target specific group or with said group permitting derivatization to a target specific group;

Rg is a hydrogen atom or a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with said pharmaceu¬ tically acceptable target specific group; and R2 , R3 , R4 and R5 are equal or different and represent C^-C4 al yl groups;

^• with the proviso that m and n are not both 0; is prepared by reacting a cyclic diamine disulfide of the general formul

wherein the symbols have the above meanings, with a thiol compound as a reducing agent, said thiol compound being selected from the group consisting of dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol, thioglycol, cysteine, N- acetylcysteine, glutathione, cC-mercaptopropiony glycine, 4- mercaptopyridine , 2 , 3-dimercapto-l-propanol , 1 ,4-dimercap- tobutane and 1 , 3-dimercaptopropane.

Inukai et al (Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, Vol. 40_, 1967,

SUBSTITUTESHEET

pp. 2913-2918) have described the preparation of glutathio¬ ne by the reductive cleavage of the corresponding S-ethyl- znercapto compound with thiophenol or thioglycollic acid: after 15 hours at 45 ^β C the yield is nearly quantitative. Upon using thiophenol for the reductive cleavage of di- tertiary disulpides according to the invention, however, a mixture of products is obtained from which the desired dia inodithiol compound cannot be isolated; this is illustrated in the Examples. The term "pharmaceutically acceptable target specific group" will be explained hereinafter. Suitable groups permitting derivatization to target specific groups include in addition to halogen atoms, aldehyde groups and carboxy groups, activated ester groups such as: N-hydroxy-succini- midyl groups, haloacyl groups, isocyanato groups, isothio- cyanato groups, diazoniu groups, epoxy groups, trichloro- s-triazinyl groups, e hyleneimino groups, chlorosulphony1 groups, alkoxycarbimidoyl groups and alkylcarbonyloxycarbo - nyl groups. In the present specification the term halogen is to be understood to comprise chlorine, bromine and iodine. Halogen atoms have proved to be particularly suitable for permitting derivatisation ; of these halogen atoms bromine is to be preferred. In addition carboxy groups have proved to be favourable groups permitting derivatization, in particular to groups derived from a protein or proteinaceous substance, by a condensation reaction with the amino functions thereof. In a preferred configuration said carboxy group is attached to the hydrocarbyl group via a cyclic structural moiety. Of the above-mentioned reducing agents dithiothreitol and dithioerythritol are to be preferred, because by using these agent the desired reduction can be carried out in a

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

very high yield when using moderate reaction conditions. Yields of over 95% can easily be obtained at ambient reaction temperatures. Although the above-mentioned dithiothreitol, its isomeric dithioerythritol and the other thiols are well-known reducing agents, e.g. for protein disulfide reductive cleavage, it is quite a surprise that these thiols are capable of reducing reduction-resistant tertiary disulfides under so moderate reaction conditions . The present invention further relates to an N2S2- compound to be used for preparing a complex for diagnostic or therapeutic application.

Frequently used diagnostic compositions comprise radionuclide-labelled compounds. Such compounds are used for diagnostic examination, e.g into deviations in shape and function of internal organs and into the presence and location of pathological processes in the body. For this purpose, a composition in which the radioactive compound is present is administered to the patient, for example, in the form of an injectable liquid. By means of a suitable detector, e.g. a gamma camera, images can be obtained by recording the emitted radiation of, for example, the organ or the pathological process in which the radioactive com¬ pound has been incorporated or is involved.

Radiotherapeutic compositions are injectable compositions comprising a radioactive compound for radiotherapeutic application. It is in the purpose of this radioactive compound to emit a suitable radiation, preferably beta- -rays, after incorporation in the target organ or tissue, generally a malignant tumour. By this irradiation the tumour can be eliminated or its growth can be prevented. The above radioactive compounds or agents have one characteristic in common in that they are administered in

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

very low dosages to achieve the desired purpose, viz. to enable a diagnostic examination or to irradiate the target organ or tissue without causing adverse side-effects . Administration of radiodiagnostic agents in larger quantities than the minimal dosages needed for imaging enhances the risk of accumulation of these agents in other places of the body than in the target organ or tissue, as a consequence of which the concentration of the agent in the environment of said target organ or tissue is increased. These background disturbances may have a serious impact on the examination of the target organ or tissue due to a decreased contrast between target organ and environmental tissue. In addition, when using radionuclide-labelled compounds, accumulation of radioactivity in other organs and tissues than the organ or tissue to be examined constitutes an extra radiation burden for these other organs and tissues which may adversely influence their health and proper functioning. This last-mentioned problem applies even more strongly to radiotherapeu ic compounds, which compounds are only intended to be vehicles for carrying the radiation dose to the target organ or tissue, in particular a malignant tumour.

It will be evident from the above explanation that in particular the "target organ specificity" is of utmost im- portance for the above compounds or agents to be used in diagnostic or radiotherapeutic compositions. By the term "target organ specificity" is to be understood the selec¬ tive presence of the compound in question in the target organ or tissue (i.e. compared to other organs or tissues) during a predetermined well-defined period of time. This latter requirement means that the compound is carried along to and accumulated in the target organ or tissue suffi-

SUBSmUTfc SHEET

ciently fast and that its residence time in said organ or tissue is sufficiently long to allow a diagnostic examina¬ tion or, for a radiotherapeutic compound, to make an optimum use of its radiation potential. To impart to an 2S2-compound -to be used for preparing a complex for diagnostic or therapeutic applica¬ tion- an optimum "target organ specificity", viz. an optimum affinity for incorporation and accumulation in the target organ, e.g. in the brain, in an inflamed organ or tissue or in a tumour, said compound should generally be provided with a suitable functional group or side chain, which group or side-chain should be pharmaceutically acceptable. It is a disadvantage of the BAT derivatives published by the authors mentioned above, that such functionalizing comprises a plurality of subsequent reaction steps. In other words, the desired functionality cannot be introduced into the compound starting from one and the same versatile intermediate. It is another disadvantage of these known compounds, that said introduc- tion of a functional group suitable for the desired target organ specificity involves a so laborious synthesis. Moreover, the functionalizing achieved by Burns et al involves the substitution of an H atom of one of the secondary a ine functions, making the compound so obtained less suitable for complexing metal ions like Tc-99m.

Anyhow, a functionality perfectly attuned to the desired target organ belongs to the basic aims in designing N2S2- compounds . In case of an insufficient "target organ specificity" or a defective pharmacokinetic behaviour a compound may remain too long in the body, beyond time after its action has been finished or the examination has been performed, and thus contributes an unnecessary burden

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

for the patient, or, on the contrary, may have left the body too fast to do its job in a proper way. An insuffi¬ cient "target organ specificity" is especially considered as a disadvantage if the compounds are intended to be used for function examination.

It is another, and indeed a very important object of the present invention to provide an N2S2 -compound which can be prepared very easily by a simple reaction starting from a versatile intermediate. It has been found, that this object can be achieved by a new N2S2 - compound having the general formula

wherein Z, Z^ , Z2 , Z3 , R2 , R3 , R4 and R5 have the above meanings ; R7 is a hydrogen atom or a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with a pharmaceuti¬ cally acceptable target specific group, derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid or fatty acid compound, a protein or proteinaceous substance, a receptor binding agent, and an amino compound, or with a group permitting derivatization to a target specific

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

group, said group permitting derivatization being selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an aldehyde group, a carboxy group and an activated ester group; Rg is a hydrogen atom or a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with said pharmaceu¬ tically acceptable target specific group or with said group permitting derivatization to a target specific group; Rα is a hydrogen atom or a C _] _-C4 alkyl group; and

Y is a hydrogen atom or a suitable protective group; or a salt of this compound with a mineral or organic acid. In case a compound is desired having one or two target specific groups, this new compound can easily be prepared from the readily available corresponding compound permit¬ ting derivatization, e.g. a halo-compound or dihalo- compound, by a simple chemical reaction, as will be explained hereinafter, of course followed by the reductive cleavage of the disulfide bond to the desired dithiol as described hereinbefore.

Examples of suitable protective groups Y for the thiol groups are: acetyl, trifluoroacetyl , hydroxyacetyl , carboxyacetyl , acetamidomethyl , benzoyl, benzyl, benzoyla- minomethyl and other related groups suitable for this purpose .

A salt of the above compound encompasses salts with various acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, perchloric acid and organic acids like citric acid, tartaric acid, etc.

If a compound is desired having at least one pharmaceuti¬ cally acceptable target specific group, such group is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

designed to impart to the compound -and consequently to the metal complex to be prepared therefrom- an optimum "target organ specificity" and pharmacokinetic behaviour. This means that such a target specific group should be attuned to the task to be performed by the compound -and its complex- in the body. So the compound functionalized in a proper way should fast and selectively transport the complexed metal via the blood stream to the target organ, e.g. the brains, easily cross the blood-target organ barrier, if present, e.g. the blood-brain barrier, and thereupon should be accumulated in said organ for suffi¬ cient time to perform its therapeutic function or to enable the user to carry out the desired examination. It stands to reason that the chemical character of such a pharmaceuti- cally acceptable target specific group may vary widely. Examples of such groups will be disclosed hereinafter.

Dependent on the substitution pattern of the N2S2- co pound, these new compounds of the present invention may occur in stereoisomers . Of course, mixtures of these stereoisomers are possible in all ratios. Optionally, these stereoisomers can be separated from each other by techniques known for this purpose, such as recrystallisation and/or chromatographic methods. The biological behaviour of the compound may be influenced by the steric configuration. In the above formula III preferably the symbols Z, Z^ ,

Z2 and Z3 are methylene groups, and Rg and Ro are hydrogen atoms. This preferred new N2S2 -compound according to the invention has the general formula

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

J?"

( IV )

wherein R _j _ , R2 , R3 , R4 , R5 and Y have the above meanings, and R7" is a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, substituted with a halogen atom, with a carboxy cnn-r-qinjng group or with a pharmaceutically acceptable target specific group, derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid or fatty acid compound, a protein or protein¬ aceous substance, a receptor binding agent which is preferably spiperone or a modification or derivative thereof, and an amino compound. If R7" is a hydrocarbyl group substituted with a halogen atom, this compound can be used as an intermediate for the synthesis of a compound having a carboxy comprising group or of a compound having a pharmaceutically acceptable target specific group, by substitution of said halogen atom. A bromine atom is preferred because bromoalkyl compounds can easily be prepared from readily available raw materials and can conveniently be substituted. The hydrocarbyl group is to be considered as a spacer, spacing the functional group from

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

the chelating compound carrying the netal ion or atom. Said spacing hydrocarbyl group may be an alkyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group, and may comprise a varying number of carbon atoms. Compounds having fragments derived from proteins or proteinaceous substances, for example blood corpuscles, imtnunoglobulins, glycopeptides, monocloncal antibodies like antimyosine and monoclonals against tuπour-antigens, and other suitable proteins like plasmine and plasmine derivatives, e.g. miniplasmine and tissue-plasminogen activator, open new perspectives for preparing radiodiagnostics, in particular for the imaging of tumours, thrombi, inflammations and cardiac diseases. Certain proteins, e.g. the glycopeptide bleomycine, may be useful for the preparation of radiotherapeutic agents. The presence of amine functions in proteins or proteinaceous substances offers the opportunity to incorporate functional groups derived therefrom by a condensation reaction wth carboxy compounds, in particular with compounds of the general formula IV wherein R7" is a hydrocarbyl group substituted with a carboxy comprising group. In said carboxy containing group the carboxy group is preferably attached to a cyclic structural moiety, like a phenyl group or a saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic moiety.

A suitable example of a receptor binding agent is spiperone. Spiperone is a triamine having the formula VIII below. Spiperone, modified spiperone and spiperone derivatives, like the compounds IX, X, XI, XII and XIII, presented below, are to be considered as promising tools in imparting to the compounds of the invention favourable

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

properties for the preparation of potential brain imaging agents .

coπiϋound A B D

VIII: spiperone (CH ₂ )3.C0.CgH4.F-4 H C6»5

IX H H C ₆ H ₅

X (CH ₂ ) ₃ .C0.CgH4.F-4 H H

XI (CH ₂ ) ₃ .C0.C H4.F-4 CH ₃ C ₆ H ₅

XII (CH ₂ )3.N(CgH4.F- )2 H C ₆ H ₅

XIII (CH ₂ ) ₃ .NH.CgH4.F-4 H C ₆ H ₅

Another example of a receptor binding agent is guanidine. The above-mentioned receptor binding agents can also be considered as amino compounds. Special amines are suitable for brain perfusion examination. In case tertiary amines are used for derivatization, quaternary ammonium compounds may be formed, which may be used for the preparation of radiodiagnostics for the localisation of neuroectodermal tumours.

In case R7" in the above formula IV is an hydrocarbyl group substituted with a pharmaceutically acceptable target specific group, said hydrocarbyl group is preferably substituted in its terminal position. If a group derived from a primary or secondary amine is used as a target specific group, said amino group may be synthesized by a simple substitution reaction from the corresponding

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

compound having a halogen atom, preferably a bromine atom. Dependent on the chemical structure of the amine used, compounds for the preparation of radiodiagnostics suitable for a radiologic examination of a variety of different organs or pathological processes can so be obtained. For such applications in addition to the above spiperone or spiperone-derived or -modified compounds IX, X, XII and XIII the following amines are to be considered: ammonia; a - alkylamine ; a N , N-dialkylamine , the alkyl groups of which together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound may constitute a five- or six-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may additionally comprise an oxygen atom and/or may be substituted with alkyl, amino, alkylamino, or optionally substituted phenylamino or phenylalkylamino ; a N- ( ' , ' -dialkylaminoalkyl) -N-alkylamine ; a N- (op ionally substituted)phenylalkylamine ; a -alkyl-N-(optionally substituted) henylalkylamines . If in the above compounds mention is made of substituted phenyl, the substituents for the phenyl group may be selected from various atoms and groups, preferably from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alk lcarbony1 , alkoxycarbonyl , hydrox , amino, alkylamino and dialkylamino . In the above compounds the alkyl groups generally comprise 1-4 carbon atoms. Some examples of such amine-derived functional groups R7" in the above formula IV are aminobutyl , N- isopropylaminobutyl ,

N , N- dimethylaminobutyl , N ,N-diethylaminobutyl , N-piperidyl- butyl, N-morpholinylbutyl , N-p-methylpiperidylbutyl , N-p- propylpiperidylbutyl and 1-phenyl - 1 , 3 , 8 - triazaspiro ( , 5 ) de - can-4-on- 8 -ylbutyl . The above starting compound, viz. the compound of the above formula IV wherein R7" is a halogen substituted hydrocarbyl group, is also very suitable for the synthesis of carboxy group comprising compounds. In

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

this manner various compounds can be prepared which are capable of reacting with amine functions in proteins and proteinaceous material. Examples of such compounds having a carboxy group are compounds of the above formula IV wherein R.7" is N-p-carboxypiperidylbutyl or p-carboxyphenoxybutyl. The present invention further relates to a compound to be used for the reductive cleavage as described herein¬ before having the general formula

and to a method of preparing said compound, wherein 7 ' represents a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, substituted with a pharmaceutically acceptable target specific group, derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid or fatty acid compound, a protein or proteinaceous substance, a receptor binding agent and an amino compound, preferably with a group derived (by amine-H elimination) from a primary or secondary amine selected from the group consisting of ammonia; a N-alkylamine ; a N,N-dialkylamine , the

SUBSTITUTESHEET

alkyl groups of which together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound may constitute a five- or six-membered heterocyclic ring, which ring may additionally comprise an oxygen atom and/or may be substituted with alkyl, amino, alkylamino or optionally substituted phenylamino or phenylalkyl- araino; a N- (N' , N' -dialkylaminoalkyl) -N-alkylamine ; a N- (optionally substi uted)phenylalkyla ine ; a N- alkyl-N- (optionally substituted)phenylalkylamine ; and spiperone or a spiperone-derived or -modified amine; all above-mentioned alkyl groups comprising 1-4 carbon atoms;

R ' is a hydrogen atom or a C^-C^g hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with said pharmaceu- tically acceptable target specific group, prefera¬ bly with a group as defined above (see R7 ' ) ; and Z, Zι_, Z ₂ , Z ₃ , R2 , R3 _> R4. R5 and R ₉ have the meanings given hereinbefore. This method can be performed by reacting a precursor of the general formula

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

wherein the symbols Z, Z^, Z2, Z3 , R ₂ , R3 , R4, R5 and Rg have the above meanings ,

X is a C^-C^ hydrocarbyl group, substituted with a group permitting derivatization to a target specific group, said group permitting derivati¬ zation being selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an aldehyde group, a carboxy group and an activated ester group, preferably a halogen atom; and Rg" is a hydrogen atom or a C^-^ hydrocarbyl group, if desired substituted with said group permitting derivatisation to a target specific group, preferably a halogen atom; or a salt of this compound with a mineral or organic acid, with a target specific group comprising compound, prefera¬ bly an amine, as defined above, or a protein or protein¬ aceous substance.

The above compound VII is a very versatile inter- mediate for the preparation of chelating agents or ligands functionalized with a suitable target specific side chain. After derivatization, e.g. by the above reaction with a suitable primary or secondary amine or with a protein, the compound obtained, having the general formula VI, can easily be subjected to a reductive disulfide cleavage as described hereinbefore.

The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a complex of a metal, which metal is selected from radionuclides, metals of the 7th and 8th subgroup, and lanthanides , with a chelating agent, said complex being destined for diagnostic or therapeutic application, by bringing a salt or chelate of said metal into a chelating

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

reaction with the new N2S2-compound as defined hereinbefo¬ re .

Suitable metal-radionuclides to be used for the above preparation method according to the invention are, for example, Tc-99m, Re-186, Re-188, Cu-67, Pb-203, Pb-212,

Ga-67, Ga-68, Bi-212, As-72, As-77, In-Ill, In-113m, Ru-97, Y-90, Ag-111 and Pd-109. From these radionuclides Tc-99m, Pb-203, Ga-67, Ga-68, As-72, In-Ill, In-113m and Ru-97 can be used for diagnostic purposes, the other ones are particularly useful in therapeutically effective composi¬ tions. The above method of preparing the desired complex can generally be carried out in a simple manner, preferably in a substantially aqueous medium at a substantially neutral pK (6.5-8). For the complex formation the desired metal is offered to the chelating agent in the form of a salt or in the form of a chelate wherein the metal is bound to relatively weak chelators, such as a pyrophosphate , a phosphonate or polyphosphonate , a polyphosphate , an oxinate , a carboxylate, a hydroxycarboxylate , an aminocar- boxylate, an enolate or a mixture thereof. In using a metal chelate as starting material for the complex formation, the desired complex is formed via the principle of ligand exchange, the 2S2-compound providing a tetradentate ligandation of the metal. The invention also relates to a radiotherapeutic composition. A suitable radiotherapeutic composition according to the invention comprises as the active ingredient a complex carrying a beta-emitter or another radionuclide suitable for radiotherapy. Suitable radionu- elides for radiotherapy are e.g. the radionuclides listed in "Radionuclides for Therapy", ed. by P. . Schubiger and P.H. Hasler, June 13-14, 1986. Said complex is, according

SU STITUT ^$ h

to the invention, prepared according to the chelating reaction as described above.

The invention further relates to a radiodiagnostic composition, comprising in addition to a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier medium a complex of a radionucli- de as defined hereinbefore. Said complex is, according to the invention, prepared as described above, viz. by bringing a salt or chelate of the metal into a chelating reaction with the new 2S2-compou d defined hereinbefore. If desired the solution so obtained can be brought into a form more suitable for intravenous or subcutaneous application, e.g. by a purification or by adding a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier material. For intravenous or subcutaneous application the solution should of course be in a sterile condition.

For performing a radiodiagnostic examination the composition, as described above, if desired after dilution with a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid, preferably a physiological saline solution, can be administered to a warm-blooded living being in a quantity sufficient for detection by means of external imaging, preferably from 0.1 to 30 millicurie per 70 kg of body weight. Thereupon the being is subjected to external imaging to detect accumula¬ ted radioactivity and thus to determine the location thereof in the body of the being.

A composition destined for a radiotherapeutic treatment comprises as the active ingredient a complex of a metal nuclide suitable for this purpose; this has been explained above. Upon use this composition, if desired after dilution with a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid, is administered to a warm-blooded living being in a quantity effective for combating or controlling tumours,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

in particular malignant tumours.

In connection with the often poor shelf life of the radiolabelled compound and/or the short half-life time of the metal radionuclide used it is frequently impossible to put the ready- for-use composition a t e disposal of the user. In such cases the user will carry out the labeling reaction with the radionuclide in the clinical hospital or laboratory. For this purpose the various reaction ingredients are then offered to the user in the form of a so-called "kit" formulation. It will be obvious that the manipulations necessary to perform the desired reaction should be as simple as possible to enable the user to prepare from the kit the radioactive labelled compositi¬ on by using the facilities that are at his disposition. Because the radiopharmaceutical composition according to the present invention can be prepared in a so simple and easy manner, this preparation process can be carried out very well by the user. Therefore the invention also relates to a kit for preparing a radiopharmaceutical composition, as described above, comprising (i) in an optionally dry condition a preparation of the new 2S2 compound as described hereinbefore, to which, if desired, an inert pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or formulating agents and/or auxiliary substances is/are added, (ii) a solution of a salt or chelate of a metal radionuclide, and (iii) if desired, instructions for use with a prescription for bringing (ii) in a chelating reaction with (i) as described hereinbefore. As mentioned before, for said chelating or complexing reaction the desired neutral radionuclide may be offered to the chelating agent in the form of a chelate, bound to a relatively weak chelator, such as a pyrophosphate , a poly-

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

phosphate, a phosphonate or polyphosphonate, an oxinate, a carboxylate, a hydroxycarboxylate , an aminocarboxylate , an enolate or a mixture thereof, said reaction being carried out under moderate conditions. Examples of suitable chelators for the radionuclide are 8-hydroxyquinoline or derivatives thereof; dicarboxylic aids, polycarboxylic acids or hydroxycarboxvlic acids, such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, phtalic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid or derivatives of these acids; pyrophosphates; phosphonates or polyphosphonates such as methylene diphoεphonate , hydroxyethylene diphospho- nate or hydroxymethylene diphosphonate; or enolates, for example tropolone or enolates with a beta-diketone, such as furoylacetone, thenoylacetone , benzoylaceto- ne, dibenzoylmethane , or derivatives of these diketones. In particular are to be considered 8 -hydroxyquinoline , citric acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid, glucoheptonic acid or a derivative thereof as chelators, because it has appeared that a chelate of a radionuclide, for example indium-Ill or lead-203, can easily be brought in a complexing reaction with the chelating agent as defined hereinbefore when using suitable conditions, preferably a buffered aqueous solution and a substantially physiological pH. Then the desired radionuclide complex can be formed by ligand exchange in a high yield and purity, the N2S2- compound of the invention serving as a tetradentate ligand encompassing the metal radionuclide completely. A buffered aqueous indium-111-tropolonate solution suitable for this purpose is described in European patent application no. 131327. The kit to be supplied to the user may also comprise the ingredient defined under (i) above together

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

with instructions for use, if desired, whereas the solution of the metal radionuclide, defined under (ii) above, which solution has a limited shelf life, may be put to the disposal of the user separately. In a different, equally extremely favourable embodi¬ ment the kit according to the invention comprises (i) in an optionally dry condition a preparation of the new 2S2 compound as described hereinbefore, to which, if desired, an inert pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or formulating agents and/or auxiliary substances is/are added, (ii) a reducing agent and, if desired, a chelator, and (iii) if desired, instructions for use with a prescrip¬ tion for bringing technetium- 99m in the form of a pertech- netate solution, or rhenium-186 or rhenium-188 in the form of a perrhenate solution in a chelating reaction with ingredients (i) and (ii) as described hereinbefore. The composition should comprise a reducing agent to reduce the pertechnetate , for example a dithionite or stannous ions. Such a kit is intended for preparing a pharmaceutical composition labelled with Tc-99m. The pertechnetate can be obtained by the user very simply from a molybdenum- technetium generator. A similar kit can be used for preparing a pharmaceutical composition labelled with Re-186 or Re-188. The available perrhenate solution should also be reduced with a suitable reducing agent like a dithionite or stannous ions. If desired, the ingredients defined under (i) and (ii) above may be combined, provided they are compatible with each other.

The ingredient of both above kits mentioned under (i) may be supplied as a solution, for example in the form of an physiological saline solution, or in some buffer solution, but is preferably present in a dry condition, for

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

example in a lyophilized condition. Upon use as a component for an injection liquid, this ingredient should be in a sterile condition. In case the ingredient is in a dry condition, the user may use a sterile physiological saline solution as a solvent therefor. If desired, the above- mentioned ingredient may be stabilized in a usual way with suitable stabilizers like ascorbic acid, gentisic acid or salts of these acids, or may be provided with other auxiliaries like fillers, e.g. glucose, lactose, mannitol, etc.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the ensuing specific examples.

EXAMPLE I

Preparation of 7- ( ' -bromobutyl) -3 , 3 , 11, 11-tetrame- thyl-l,2-dithia-5, -diazacycloundecane hydrobromide : compound XIV below.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

(a) Preparation of 2 -cyano- 6 -phenoxyhexanoic acid nitrile . 11.87 g dry sodium hydride (0.436 mol) is suspended under argon in 100 ml dimethyl formamide, and 32.67 g malonic acid dinitrile (0.495 mol), dissolved in 100 ml DMF, are added during 3 hours with cooling to 0 ^β C. Subsequently, 113.5 g 1 -phenoxy-4-bromobutane (0.495 mol) dissolved in 100 ml DMF, are added within 6 hours. After stirring for additional 6 hours at room temperature, the reaction is quenched by the addition 1 1 ice and 20 ml concentrated

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hydrochloric acid. Extraction with chloroform, drying of the combined organic phases with sodium sulphate and evaporation of the solvents give a dark yellow oil. Addition of 200 ml methanol results in the crystallization of 1, 9-bis(phenoxy) -5 , 5-dicyanononane (29.7 g. 0.048 mol, 19%) . Filtration and vacuum distillation of the filtrate (bp: 190°C, 0.5 mbar) give a colourless material which crystallizes from methanol (55.4 g, 0.258 mol; 59,3% based on NaH) as pure 2-cyano- 6-phenoxyhexanoic acid nitrile; mp 53-55 ^β C.

b) Preparation of 2-aminomethyl-6 -phenoxy-hexylamine . 12.85 g 2 -Cyano- 6 -phenoxyhexanoic acid nitrile (59,9 mmol) are dissolved in 1.8 1 methanol. After the addition of 15 g Pd/C catalyst and 72 ml ethanolic HCl (5 N) the mixture is hydrogenated at room temperature (p-0.1 bar) for 4 days. Filtration from the catalyst, evaporation of the filtrate and recrystallization of the residue from methanol give 14 g of the dihydrochloride as colourless needles: m.p. 202- 204°C (decomp.). Dissolution of the dihydrochloride in a stoichiometric amount of ethanolic KOH, filtration from precipitated KC1 and vacuum distillation of the filtrate results in 10.1 g 2-aminomethyl-6-phenoxy-hexylamine (45 mmol; 75%) as a colourless oil; bp : 160'C, 5 mbar. The oil solidifies within several months; mp : 112-117 ^β C.

(c) Preparation of 7- ( ' -phenoxybutyl) -3 , 3 , 11, 11- tetramethyl-1 ,2-di hia-5, 9-diazacycloundecane hydrobro ide . 8.16 g 2-aminomethyl-6-phenoxy-hexylamine (36.7 mmol) and 7.56 g 2,2' -dithio-bis(2-methylbutanal) (36.7 mmol) are refluxed in 500 ml ethanol. The solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue redissolved in 200 ml

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ethanol. 5.5. g NaBH4 (0.146 mmol) are added subsequently in several portions. The reduction is completed by heating the mixture for an additional hour. The solvent is again evaporated and the residue treated with H2O. CHCI3- extraction affords 9.94 g crude oil (68%) which precipita¬ tes from ethanol/48% HBr as the dihydrobromide salt of the title compound (10.59 g; 51.7%) , mp : >200 ^β C (decomp.) .

(d) Preparation of 7 - ( ' -bromobutyl) - 3 , 3 , 11 , 11 - tetramethyl- 1 , 2 - dithia- 5 , 9-diazacycloundecane hydrobromide (XIV) .

1.18 g of the compound prepared under (c) (2.11 mmol) is heated for 5 days at a temperature of 90°C in an Ar purged AcOH/48% HBr-mixture. After the evaporation of the AcOH/48% HBr-mixture the title compound is precipitated from Me0H/CH ₃ CN (0,78 g; 68%) , mp : >200°C (decomp.) .

EXAMPLE II

(a) Preparation of 7- ( ' -N-piperidylbutyl) - 3 , 3 , 11 , 11- tetramethyl - 1 , 2-dithia- 5 , 9-diazacycloundecane : compound XV-A as presented in Example I.

To 0.1 g (0.183 mmol) of the -bromocompound (XIV) obtained as described in Example I, dissolved in 20 ml ethanol, is added 0.1 g (1.18 mmol) of piperidine; the mixture is then stirred at ambient temperature for 24 hours. The desired alkylated amine is purifed by column chromatography. The viscous product (XV-A) is obtained in a yield of 85%. The structure of the product is affirmed by mass and NMR spectroscopy . In a comparable way the compounds presented in the table of Example I under nos . XVI-A, XVII-A, XVIII-A and XIX-A are prepared, using morpholine, ammonia, 1-phenyl-

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1 , 3-diaza-spiro(4 , 5)decan-4-one- 8 -amine and 4-carboxypipe- ridine as the starting amines. The products are also identified by mass and NMR spectroscop .

compound yield mass-spectral data nmr data

XV-A 85% 387 (M+, 40%) 0.9-1.8 (m, 25H, CH ₃ CH ₂ CH) 322 M+-S2H, 29%) 2.2-3.2 ( , 14H, CH ₂ -N)

283 (M ^÷ -SC(CH3) ₂ NH _2l 27%) 2.5 (s, 2H, NH)

XVI-A 83% 389 (M+, 94%) 0.9-1.6 (m, 19H, CH ₃ CH ₂ CH) 324 +-S2H, 17%) 2.1-3.2 (m, 14H, CH ₂ -N)

285 (M ⁺ -SC(CH3) ₂ H ₂ , 23%) 2.2 (s, 2H, NH) 3.7-3.8 ( , 4H, CH ₂ -0)

XVII-A 78% 319 (M ⁺ , 100%) 1.0-2.1 (m, 19H, CH ₃ CH ₂ CH) 2.2-3.2 (m, 10H, CH ₂ -N) 2.15 (s, 4H, NH NH ₂ )

XVIII-A 85% 533 (M+, 20%) 1.0-1.8 (m, 23H, CH ₃ CH ₂ CH) 468 +-S2H, 12%) 2.2-3.2 (m, 16H, CH ₂ -N)

429 (M ⁺ -SC(CH ₃ )2 H ₂ , 6%) 2.5 (s, 2H, NH) 6.7-7.3 ( , 5H, CgH ₅ )

XIX-A 76% 0.9-1.8 (m, 23H, CH ₃ CH ₂ CH) 2.2-3.1 (m, 15H, CH ₂ -N CH-CO)

(b) Preparation of 7- ( ' -p-carboxyphenyloxybutyl) - 3,3,11, 11-tetramethyl-1 ,2-dithia-5,9-diazacycloundecane : compound XX-A as presented in Example I.

167.5 mg (1.01 mmol) p-Phenoxybenzoic acid ethyl ester

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was dissolved under N2 in 2.5 ml DMF, cooled to 0°C and treated with 120 mg NaH (5 mmol) . After the sease of hydrogen formation 500 mg 4-bromocompound (XIV) (0.915 mmol in 10 ml DMF) was added over a time period of 20 minutes and stirred for another 30 minutes at 0 ^β C. After over night stirring at ambient temperature the reaction was stopped by the addition of H2O and CH2CI2. Upon cooling crystals of compound XX-A were isolated and characterized by NMR spectroscopy . Yield 72%, NMR 1.1-2.2 (m, 19H, CH3 CH ₂ CH) , 2.4-3.2 ( , 8H, CH ₂ -N) , 3.9 (t, J-5 Hz, CH ₂ -0) 7.35 (AA'BB ¹ , CgH ₄ ) .

EXAMPLE III

(a) Reductive cleavage of 7 - (4 ' -N-piperidylbu.tyl) - 3 , 3 , 11 , 11- tetramethyl- 1 , 2-dithia- 5 , 9 -diazacycloundecane . Compound XV-A, obtained according to Example II, is dissolved in a quantity of 0.16 g (0.413 mmol) in 2 ml of methanol. This solution is treated at ambient temperature with 0.314 g (2.03 mmol) of 1 , 4-dimercapto- 2 , 3-dihydroxybu- tane (dithiothreitol) for 24 hours. At the end of the reaction the mixture is acidified with HBr and extracted several times with diethylether . The oily residue solidi¬ fies under reduced pressure to an amorphous salt. The desired dithiol compound XV-B, presented below, is identified by NMR and FAB- ass spectroscopy. The yield is 95%.

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In a comparable way the dithiol compounds presented under nos . XVI-B, XVII-B, XVIII-B, XIX-B and XX-B are prepared .

(b) Reductive cleavage of compound XVIII-A as presented in Example I.

100 mg of compound XVIII-A (0.187 mmol), obtained according to Example II, was dissolved in 2 ml methanol. A quantity of 225 mg thiophenol was added and the solution was stirred over night at ambient temperature. Reversed phase HPLC analysis revealed a mixture of products including 30-50% of the desired ligand and 50-70% of mono- and dithiophenyl derivatives thereof. The isolation of the ligand XVIII-B from these reaction mixtures was not possible. From these results it may be concluded, that thiophenol is not suitable as a reducing agent for the

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desired cleavage.

EXAMPLE IV

Labelling of the diaminodithiol compound of Example III with technetium- 9m.

A mixture of 5 /ul tin(II) chloride (0.05 mmol/ml ethanol) and 25 /ul diaminodithiolderivative hydrobromide (0.05 mmol/ml water), prepared according to Example III, is added to 5 GBq Na^ ^9m Tcθ4 in 1 ml physiological salt solution. The pH of the solution is adjusted to 7.4 by adding 0.1 ml phosphate buffer of that pH. The solution is then made sterile by filtering it through a 0.2 /um sterile filter. The labelling yield is determined by HPLC and amounts to 80-95%. In the same way the diaminodithiol compounds XVI-B,

XVII-B, XVIII-B and XIX-B are labelled with technetium-99m in yields of 80-95%.

EXAMPLE V A mixture of 1 GBq (0.3 ml) technetium- 99m complex with diaminodithiol compound XIX-B, prepared according to Example IV, and 50 /ul N-hydroxysuccinimide (0.05 mmol/ml H2O) was treated with 50 /ul N- (3 -dimethylaminopropyl) -N ' - ethylcarbodiimide (0.05 mmol/ml H2O) for 1 hour at ambient temperature. Addition of 100 /ul (200 mg/ml) human serum albumin (HSA) and chromatography on Sephadex G25® (2% Et3N/phosphate buffer, pH 5) afforded 52% technetium-99m labelled HSA.

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