Milbemycins, a new family of macrolide antibiotics. Structure determination of milbemycins D, E, F, G, H, J and K.

The milbemycins, a group of potent, broad-spectrum antiparasitic and pesticidal agents, are architecturally novel antibiotics of 16-membered macrocyclic lactone. Seven new milbemycin analogues designed as milbemycins D, E, F, G, H, J and K were isolated from the fermentation broth of the mutant strain of Streptomyces hygroscopicus subsp. aureolacrimosus. The structural determination of these new components was made mainly by comparing with mass spectra, and 1H and 13C NMR spectra of milbemycin alpha- and beta-series previously published from our laboratory. Milbemycins D, E, F, G and H have characteristically an isopropyl side chain at C-25 which differs from the known milbemycin family bearing methyl or ethyl group at C-25. Milbemycins J and K possess a ketone group at C-5 instead of a hydroxyl or methoxy group. Apart from X-ray crystallography, the R-configuration of the hydroxyl group at C-5 could be best explained both by application of CD allylic benzoate method to the n-N, N-dimethylaminobenzoate of milbemycin D and by comparison of the specific rotation of milbemycin D itself and its acetate with the epimeric isomers at C-5.