new spisulosine derivatives of use in treating tumors are of the formula wherein : each x is the same or different , and represents h , oh , or ′, sh , sr ′, sor ′, so 2 r ′, no 2 , nh 2 , nhr ′, n 2 , cn , halogen , ch , cch 3 , co 2 h , co 2 ch 3 , substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alkyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkynyl , substituted or unsubstituted aryl , substituted or unsubstituted heteroaromatic , or two groups x may together form ═ o ; y is nr 1 , or 1 , pr 1 , sr 1 , or halogen , wherein the number of substituents r 1 is selected to suit the valency and each r 1 is independently selected of h , oh , cr ′, pr ′ r ″, substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alkyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkynyl , substituted or unsubstituted aryl , and wherein the dotted line indicates an optional double bond ; each z is the same different , and represents h , oh , or ′, sh , sr ′, sor ′, so 2 r ′, no 2 , nh 2 , nhr ′, n 2 , nhcr ′, cn , halogen , ch , cch 3 , co 2 h , co 2 ch 3 , substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alkyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkynyl , substituted or unsubstituted aryl , substituted or unsubstituted heteroaromatic , or two groups z may together form ═ o ; z is 0 to 25 ; y is to 0 to 20 ; r 2 is h , cr ′, pr ′ r ″, sr ′ r ″, s 2 r ′, substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alkyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkynyl , substituted or unsubstituted aryl ; r 3 is h , cr ′, pr ′ r ″, sr ′ r ″, s 2 r ′, substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alklyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkynyl , substituted or unsubstituted aryl ; each of the r ′, r ″ groups is independently selected from the group consisting of h , oh , no 2 , nh 2 , sh , cn , halogen , ═ o , ch , cch 3 , co 2 h , co 2 ch 3 , substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alkyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 1 - c 18 alkoxy , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkenyl , substituted or unsubstituted c 2 - c 18 alkynl , substituted or unsubstituted aryl ; there may be one or more unsaturations in the hydrocarbon backbone defined by the chain and salts thereof ; with the exception of a c 16 - c 24 2 - amino - 3 - hydroxyalkane or a c 16 - c 24 2 - amino - 3 - hydroxyalkene .