Substances derived from 4-de-N-methylfortimicin B

The preparation of 4-de-N-methylfortimicin A analogs as well as the preparation of 4-de-N-methyl-4-N-(beta-aminoethyl)-4-N-ethylfortimicin B is reported. It was shown that the 4-N-methyl group in fortimicin analogs is essential for antibacterial activity since neither the 4-de-N-methylfortimicin A nor the 4-de-N-methyl-4-N-(beta-aminoethyl)-4-N-ethylfortimicin B exhibited useful biological activity.