Kijanimicin antibiotics and derivatives thereof

Kijanimicin, having the following physicochemical characteristics:

• (a) A melting point with decomposition of 174.5.degree. C.;
• (b) A specific optical rotation as measured at the D line of sodium of 25.degree. C. of -116.4.degree..+-. at 0.3% in methanol;
• (c) Ultra-violet absorption maxima in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol at 99 nm (E.sub.1 cm.sup.1% 328.4), 242 nm (E.sub.1 cm.sup.1% 56.2), 264 nm (E.sub.1 cm.sup.1% 63.1) and 274 nm (E.sub.1 cm.sup.1% 60.7);
• (d) Infrared Spectrum, lambda max (CHCL.sub.3) 3690, 3620, 3540, 3480, 3440, 2970, 2940, 1755, 1733, 1623, 1545, 1515, 1318, 1232, 1130, 1060 cm.sup.-1 ;
• (e) .sup.13 C-NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance .delta.C (CDCL.sub.3) 206.2, 201.5, 167.1, 157.4, 141.5, 137.1, 135.7, 126.7, 125.8, 123.6, 121.5, 119.3, 101.9, 99.8, 98.2, 97.1, 92.2, 91.0, 90.8, 84.5, 83.3, 82.6, 79.6, 78.4, 72.4, 71.8, 69.1, 68.1, 67.5, 67.1, 66.8, 65.1, 64.9, 64.4, 63.8, 62.6, 57.3, 53.8, 53.2, 52.7, 51.0, 43.1, 41.6, 40.2, 38.5, 36.8, 35.7, 35.5, 34.8, 34.4, 31.3, 31.1, 29.9, 29.7, 27.9, 25.3, 22.2, 18.4, 17.9,
• (f) .sup.1 H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance .delta.H (CDCl.sub.3)0.65 (2H,m), 1.06 (3H,d,J=7 H.sub.z), 1.18 (3H,d,J-6H.sub.z), 1.20-1.40 (envelop of signals), 1.60 (3H,S), 1.64 (3H,S), 3.45 (3H,S), 3.76 ppm (3H,S);
• (g) and having a planar structural formula substantially as follows:
• ##STR2## and the non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable cationic salts thereof.