The present inventors have developed a key intermediate for the production of C2 substituted PBDs, which has a leaving group at the C2 position, a carbamate protecting group at the N10 position and a protected hydroxy group at the C11 position. In a first aspect, the present invention comprises a compound with a the formula (I), wherein: R10 is a carbamate-based nitrogen protecting group; R11 is an oxygen protecting group; and R2 is a labile leaving group. In a further aspect, the present invention comprises a method of synthesising a compound of formula (III), or a solvate thereof, from a compound of formula (I) as defined in the first aspect, R16 is either O—R11, wherein R11 is as defined in the first aspect, or OH, or R10 and R16 together form a double bond between N10 and C11; and R15 is R. The other substituents are defined in the claims. Further aspects of the present invention relate to compounds of formula (III) (including solvates thereof when R10 and R16 form a double bond between N10 and C11, and pharmaceutical salts thereof), pharmaceutical compositions comprising these, and their use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a proliferative disease.