Microbial conversion of daunorubicin into N-acetyl-13(S)-dihydrodaunomycin and bisanhydro-13-dihydrodaunomycinone

By using a strain of Streptomyces willmorii, daunorubicin (daunomycin) was stereoselectively converted into N-acetyl-13(S)-dihydrodaunomycin and bisanhydro-13-dihydrodaunomycinone. The absolute stereochemistry of the new chiral center in N-acetyl-13(S)-dihydrodaunomycin was established by means of nuclear Overhauser effect measured in the 9,13-O-isopropylidene derivative.