| abstract |
An anthracycline glycoside of general formula (1), wherein R1 is hydrogen or methoxy group; R2 is hydrogen or hy-droxy group, A and R both represent hydrogen or one of A and B is hydrogen and the other is hydroxy or a group of formu-la -OSO2R5 in which R5 is C1-C4 alkyl or aryl optionally substituted by C1-C4 alkyl, nitro, amino, methoxy or halogen; R3 is a hydrogen atom or a group of formula (2) and R4 is a group of formula (2): -(CH2)n-X, in which n is 2 or 3 and X is hy-droxy group, a halogen or a group of formula -OSO2R5 in which R5 is as defined above and with the proviso that if R2, X and A are a hydroxy group and R3=H, n must be 3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Compounds of the in-vention have activity as antitumor agents. Processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical composition containing them are also disclosed. |