The present disclosure provides macrocyclic compounds comprising a 4-amido-2,4-pentadienoate (APD) moiety. The compounds exhibit toxicity that is selective to the hypoxic micro-environments often found in cancerous tissues. The disclosed compounds are therefore suitable for treatment of hypoxic cancer cells.

The present disclosure pertains to a molecule that is operable to release a nitroxyl (HNO) upon irradiation. The nitroxyl may be operable to convert to nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O). The present disclosure also pertains to methods of releasing nitroxyl from a molecule of the present disclosure by irradiating the molecule. The released nitroxyl may then convert to nitrous oxide. The present disclosure also pertains to methods of administering at least one of nitroxyl or nitrous oxide to a subject by (1) administering a molecule of the present disclosure to the subject; and (2) irradiating the molecule, where the irradiation results in the release of nitroxyl from the molecule. The released nitroxyl may then convert to nitrous oxide.

The present disclosure pertains to a molecule that is operable to release a nitroxyl (HNO) upon irradiation. The nitroxyl may be operable to convert to nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O). The present disclosure also pertains to methods of releasing nitroxyl from a molecule of the present disclosure by irradiating the molecule. The released nitroxyl may then convert to nitrous oxide. The present disclosure also pertains to methods of administering at least one of nitroxyl or nitrous oxide to a subject by (1) administering a molecule of the present disclosure to the subject; and (2) irradiating the molecule, where the irradiation results in the release of nitroxyl from the molecule. The released nitroxyl may then convert to nitrous oxide.