Abstract: A process for the synthesis of adriamycin and 7,9-epiadriamycin, both active antineoplastic agents, in which 7-deoxydaunomycinone, in either the 9s or racemic (.+-.) form, is employed as the starting material, the process in one embodiment also being productive of the useful intermediate compound 4-methoxy-6,11-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-5,9(10H),12-naphthacenetrione. The process involves converting 7-deoxydaunomicinone successively to daunomycinone, adriamycinone, 14-0-p-anisyldiphenylmethyladriamycinone and finally to adriamycin or to both adriamycin and 7,9-epiadriamycin. When producing the latter mixture of diastereomers, the 7-deoxydaunomycinone starting material is first converted to racemate form by a process involving the successive production of 7-deoxydaunorubicinol, 4-methoxy-6,11-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-5,9(10H), 12-naphthacenetrione, (.+-.)-4-methoxy-9-cyano-6,9,11-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5,12-naphth acenedione, (.+-.

Abstract: New 3-methyl-3-nitrosoureido derivatives of the following amino sugars were prepared as analogs of streptozotocin with the anomeric carbon protected, by nitrosating the methylureas in water with N.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 3-amino-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-.alpha.-D-ribofuranose; methyl 3-amino-3-deoxy-.beta.-D-xylopyranoside; methyl 3-amino-3-deoxy-.alpha.-D-altropyranoside; methyl 3-amino-3-deoxy-.alpha.-D-glucopyranoside; and methyl 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-.alpha.-L-lyxohexopyranoside. Tests against murine leukemia L1210 show that the anticancer activity of streptozotocin not only was retained but was enhanced in most of these derivatives.