6-Hydroxymethylacylfulvene in Treating Patients With Refractory Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, or Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of refractory myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia, or blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia MDS and AML include: * First salvage with primary refractory disease or first complete remission of no more than 12 months * Second or greater salvage * After the maximum tolerated dose is determined, AML patients with an intermediate prognosis (i.e., complete remission of more than 12 months, but less than 24 months) are eligible * No candidates for curative therapies such as allogeneic bone marrow transplantation PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Age: 18 and over * Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * No active congestive heart failure * No uncontrolled angina * No myocardial infarction within past 6 months * No concurrent grade 4 infection * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No overt psychosis, mental disability, or other incompetency that would preclude obtaining informed consent * No life threatening nonmalignant illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 2 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered * No concurrent systemic anticancer biologic therapy * At least 2 weeks since other prior chemotherapy and recovered * Concurrent hydroxyurea allowed if needed to control blast counts * No concurrent systemic anticancer chemotherapy * At least 2 weeks since prior endocrine therapy and recovered * Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if needed to control blast counts * At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent systemic radiotherapy * No concurrent surgery * At least 3 weeks since other prior investigational drugs (including analgesics or antiemetics) and recovered * No other concurrent investigational drugs