Anaerobic Reduction of Anthracycline Antibiotics and Their Model Compounds by Fe(II) Complexes

Abstract

Hydroxyanthraquinones, model compounds for anthracycline antibiotics, are reduced by Fe(II)-ADP and Fe(II)-phosphate complexes to produce semiquinone radicals. In case the corresponding hydroquinone is stable, two electron reduction is caused by the Fe(II)-phosphate complex, rather strong reducing agent.