The present invention provides novel pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-glycoside prodrug of general formula 1a-b, useful as selective anticancer agents. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of novel pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-glycoside prodrugs of general formula 1a-b. This invention also provides activation of these produgs by E.coli ß galactosidase and envisaged that these molecules are toxic to human cancer cell lines in the presence of the enzyme E.coli ß -galactosidase. The prodrugs 1a and 1b were also found to be toxic to human cancer HepG2 cells even in the absence of the E.coli D-galactosidase. The toxic effect of the molecules when activated was similar to that of the parent molecules 6a and 6b, respectively.
