Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a process for extracting compounds from plant material, comprisinga) contacting hydrolyzed plant material with a supercritical fluid and optionally with a co-solvent and p1 b) recovering the compound from the supercritical fluid.In another embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a process for removing a compound from plant material, comprising contacting the plant material with an acid, a supercritical fluid and a co-solvent, and recovering the compound from the supercritical fluid. The sterols, diosgenin and sarsapogenin, are efficiently extracted from barbasco root and Yucca seed, respectively.

Abstract: Everninomicin derivatives devoid of a nitro group and having antibacterial activity are prepared by electrochemically reducing the corresponding everninomicin having a nitro function or salts thereof in an aprotic anhydrous solvent in the absence of carbon dioxide. A preferred starting compound is everninomicin D whereby is produced a product mixture of antibacterial agents identified as desevernitrose everninomicin D, everninomicin D-3, and everninomicin D-7, respectively.

Abstract: Hydroxylaminoeverninomicins having antibacterial activity are prepared by electrochemically reducing the corresponding everninomicin having a nitro function or the corresponding nitrosoeverninomicin in an aqueous miscible organic solvent under an inert atmosphere or in an anhydrous aprotic solvent in the presence of carbon dioxide. Additionally, nitrosoeverninomicins, upon electrochemical reduction in an aprotic solvent under an inert atmosphere, are converted to the corresponding hydroxylaminoeverninomicins. Preferred starting compounds are everninomicins B, C and D whereby are obtained hydroxylaminoeverninomicins B, C and D, respectively. Particularly useful is the electrochemical reduction of everninomicin D in anhydrous dimethylformamide in the presence of carbon dioxide to obtain hydroxylaminoeverninomicin D of excellent purity in high yields.