Preparation and biological evaluation of 4-O-demethyldaunorubicin (carminomycin I) and of its 13-dihydro derivative.

A mutant strain of Streptomyces peucetius produced an anthracycline antibiotic whose structure has been established to be 4-O-demethyl-13-dihydrodaunorubicin (4), by application of spectroscopic methods and chemical degradation. A new synthesis of 4-O-demethyl-daunorubicin (carminomycin I, 2) starting from daunomycinone, together with the comparison of the antitumor activity of the anthracycline glycosides 2 and 4 are also reported.