Abstract: The invention relates to new anthracycline derivatives having cytostatic activity and the general formula I, which are optionally in the form of a salt of an inorganic or organic acid, ##STR1## in which the substituents have the following meaning: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl or a methoxy group,R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group,R.sup.4 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group,R.sup.5 is hydrogen, a hydroxyl or a methoxycarbonyl group, or a substituent of the general formula II, ##STR2## in which R.sup.8a has the meaning indicated for R.sup.8, or a substituent of the formula III, ##STR3## R.sup.6 is ethyl, methylcarbonyl, hydroxymethylcarbonyl, hydroxyalkyl or a dihydroxyalkyl,R.sup.7 is hydrogen or a substituent of the general formula IV, ##STR4## and R.sup.8 is hydrogen or a cyanomethyl group or a substituent of the general formula COR.sup.9 or CH.sub.2 R.sup.10, R.sup.9 being hydrogen, CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3 or CCl.sub.3, and R.sup.10 being C.sub.1 - to C.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to new anthracycline derivatives having cytostatic activity and the general formula I ##STR1## in which the radicals R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group, R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group or a structure of the formula II, and R.sup.3 is a hydroxyl group or a structure of the formula II ##STR2## in which R.sup.4 is an aliphatic or aromatic acyl group, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 has a structure of the formula II, which are optionally in the form of a salt of an inorganic or organic acid, as well as to the process for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof in pharmaceuticals.