Pradimicins M, N, O and P, new dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinones produced by blocked mutants of Actinomadura hibisca P157-2.

Four blocked mutants which accumulated new dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone metabolites, designated pradimicins M, N, O and P, have been isolated from cultures of mutants of Actinomadura hibisca P157-2 resulting from treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The structures of the four compounds were determined by spectral analysis. Pradimicins N, O and P contain D-alanine, while pradimicin M does not. The conformations at C-5 and C-6 of these compounds are different from those of the original pradimicins.