Hydrogenation of the anthracyclines daunorubicin (1) and doxorubicin (2) gave
selective deoxygenation at position 5. Hydride reduction of (1) and (2) gave
complementary regiocontrol, leading to 12-deoxygenation or 5,12-
bisdeoxygenation. This chemistry allows retention of the 7-glycoside and the
side-chain carbonyl groups. It has led to new anthracycline families
possessing all of the stereochemical and most of the spatial characteristics
of the parent compounds (1) and (2). These are typified by 5-deoxy (12), (15);
12-deoxy (22), (23); 5,12-bisdeoxy (34), (35); and 4,5,12-trisdeoxy systems
(36). All possess high anticancer activity.