Synthesis of novel 13-methyl-13-dihydroanthracyclines.

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Abstract
The title compounds, (+)-13-methyl-13-dihydro-4-demethoxydaunorubicin hydrochloride (8·HCl) and (+)-13-methyl-13-dihydrodaunorubicin hydrochloride (9·HCl), were prepared from (+)-4-demethoxydaunomycinone (13) and (+)-daunomycinone (18), respectively, by silylation of the C7-hydroxy group, addition of methylmagnesium bromide to the C13-carbonyl group, and direct glycosidation of the 7-O-silyl anthracyclinones with the daunosamine derivative (anthracycline numbering). In the P388 in vitro test, 8·HCl was several hundred-fold more active than adriamycin hydrochloride (1·HCl). Notable anticancer activity, equivalent to that of adriamycin hydrochloride, was also observed in the P388 in vivo test of 8·HCl.