Epi-daunomycin and epi-adriamycin compounds and method of use

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for preparing glycoside antitumor antibiotics, including the known compounds daunomycin, adriamycin, 4'-epi-daunomycin and 4'-epi-adriamycin and the novel antibiotics, 3',4'-epi-6'-hydroxydaunomycin, 3',4'-epi-6'-hydroxyadriamycin. 3',4'-epi-daunomycin, 3',4'-epi-adriamycin, 4-demethoxy-4'-epi-daunomycin and 4-demethoxy-4'-epi-adriamycin. Process involves reacting daunomycinone or 4-demethoxy-daunomycinone with a protected 1-halo derivative of 3,4-epi-6-hydroxydaunosamine, 3,4-epi-daunosamine or 4-epi-daunosamine in an inert solvent in the presence of a soluble silver salt catalyst to form a protected derivative of the glycoside antibiotic and removing the protecting groups.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.