Preparation and biological activities of 10-decarbamoyloxy-9-dehydromitomycin B and its analogs

A new naturally occurring mitomycin, 10-decarbamoyloxy-9-dehydromitomycin B (1), was prepared by treating mitomycin B with sodium hydride. Its analogs having an exo-cyclic double bond in their structure were also synthesized. These compounds showed antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. Among them, 7-amino-10-decarbamoyloxy-9-dehydro-7-demethoxymitomycin B (2) was the most potent growth inhibitor of KB cells in vitro and, accordingly, it appears to be a potential antitumor agent.