8-Hydroxyanthracyclinones from .epsilon.-rhodomycinone

Abstract
.epsilon.-Rhodomycinone was converted into 8,9-dehydro-.zeta.-rhodomycinone, which gave a cis diol with osmium tetroxide and a pair of epimeric epoxides with m-chloroperbenzoic acid. Acid-catalyzed opening of the epoxides gave the corresponding trans diols. Acid treatment of the trimethyl ethers of these epoxides gave predominantly a lactone and an .eta.-rhodomycinone derivative, with only small amounts of the diols. None of the new rhodomycinones were active against Bacillus subtilis, but 8,9-dehydro-.zeta.-rhodomycinone was active in the induction of lytic phage in Escherichia coli.