Isolation and structural elucidation of naphthomycins B and C

Two new ansamycin antibiotics, the naphthomycins B and C, were isolated from two different strains of Streptomyces. The structures were determined by comparison of the spectra (UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR) with those of the known naphthomycin A, by spin decoupling experiments (300 MHz) and in one case by a two dimensional NMR analysis. Naphthomycin B (II) is 30-chloronaphthomycin C. Strikingly, naphthomycin A (I) differs from B and C not only by the presence of an additional methyl group at C (2), but also in the configuration of some of the double bonds. A fourth ansamycin antibiotic of the naphthomycin subgroup, actamycin, is 30-hydroxynaphthomycin C.