Cytostatic activity of daunorubicin analogs containing daunosamine as furanoside.

This paper describes the synthesis of daunorubicin (daunomycin) analogs, differing from the natural antibiotics in the ring size of the sugar moiety (furanosides instead of pyranosides). Both, the 5-O-methyl derivative 7 as well as the daunosaminofuranoside 16 were less active cytostatics than doxorubicin (adriamycin), but 16 was also much less toxic, consequently its therapeutic index is more favourable.