| abstract |
Anthracycline glycosides of the formula I <IMAGE> I wherein R is hydrogen or hydroxyl and the hydrochlorides thereof, and which are useful in treating certain mammalian tumors, are prepared by condensing daunomycinone with the novel sugar, 4-O-methyl-2,3,6-trideoxy-3trifluoroacetamidoribohexopyranosyl chloride in an inert organic solvent and in the presence of a soluble silver salt and a dehydrating agent to form 3', 4' -diepi-4'-O-methyl-N-trifluoroacetyl daunorubicin, and removing the N-trifluoroacetyl group therefrom. This gives the compound wherein R is hydrogen. The former is converted to the corresponding hydroxyl compound by conventional means. |