[Oxidation of anthracycline antibiotics]

The quantum-chemical estimation of the highest occupied molecular orbital energy for the aglycons of carminomycin, rubomycin, adriamycin and aclacinomycin A in the neutral and ionized states was performed with a semiempirical method. It was shown that the aglycon ionization amplified the electron donor properties of the antibiotics. On the basis of the difference in the absorption spectra of the neutral and ionized chromophores their ionization constants were determined spectrophotometrically. For comparison of the electron donor properties of the anthracyclines at the physiological pH value the reaction of their oxidation with potassium ferricyanide accompanied by decoloration of the solutions was studied. On the basis of the quantum-chemical and experimental data it was concluded that the electron donor properties amplified as follows: aclacinomycin A less than adriamycin-rubomycin less than carminomycin. At the same time their acute toxicity increased (a decrease in the LD50). Therefore, the toxicity of the anthracycline antibiotics could be also due to formation of the radicals with high reactivity on the monoelectronic oxidation.