Semisynthetic 4-O-Methyl-ß-Rhodomycins: Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships

ABSTRACT The synthesis of 7-O-α-L-daunosaminyl-4-O-methyl-β-rhodomycinone (3) and the determination of its cytotoxic potency compared to that of the natural 7-O-α-L-dau-nosaminyl-β-rhodomycinone (4) are described. Starting with natural β-rhodomycinone (7), trimethylsilyl protecting groups were attached to the hydroxy groups at position 7 and 10, and the 4-OH group was subsequently methylated (MeI/Cs2CO3), thus providing the 4-O-methyl-7, 10-bis-O-trimethylsilyl-β-rhodomycinone (10). The two TMS groups were then deblocked to give 4-O-methyl-β-rhodomycinone (12). In a 3-stage synthesis 12 was converted into 4-O-methyl-10-O-trifiuoroacetyl-s-rhodomycinone (15) to which l, 4-bis-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-3-N-trifluoroacetyl-L-daunosamine 16 was selectively linked to afford the 7-O-α-glycoside 17. The acyl protective groups are removed by treatment with 1N NaOH to give 3.