Low toxic derivatives of istamycin B: synthesis and preliminary evaluation.

3-O-Demethylistamycin B derived from istamycin B was one of the most potent aminoglycoside antibiotics against various bacteria. 3-O-Demethylistamycin B, however, showed considerable acute toxicity in mice. The authors attempted to prepare the derivatives of istamycin B having high potency and low toxicity. The selective N-acylation or N-amidination at the C-2 position of istamycin B could not improve the acute toxicity. The replacement of the amino group at the C-2 position of istamycin B by a hydroxyl group markedly decreased the acute toxicity. Among 2'-deamino-2'-hydroxyistamycins, 4-N-(beta-alanyl)-2'-deamino-3-O-demethyl-2'-hydroxyistamycin B0 (9d) showed good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and a low acute toxicity in mice.