5-Deoxy, 12-Deoxy, 5,12-Bisdeoxy, and 4,5,12-Trisdeoxy Anthracyclines: Synthesis of New Analogues of Daunorubicin and Doxorubicin by Controlled Deoxygenation of the C-Ring.

Abstract

Hydrogenation of the anthracyclines daunorubicin (1) and doxorubicin (2) gave selective deoxygenation at position 5. Hydride reduction of (1) and (2) gave complementary regiocontrol, leading to 12-deoxygenation or 5,12- bisdeoxygenation. This chemistry allows retention of the 7-glycoside and the side-chain carbonyl groups. It has led to new anthracycline families possessing all of the stereochemical and most of the spatial characteristics of the parent compounds (1) and (2). These are typified by 5-deoxy (12), (15); 12-deoxy (22), (23); 5,12-bisdeoxy (34), (35); and 4,5,12-trisdeoxy systems (36). All possess high anticancer activity.