Chemical modification of neamine.

The aminocyclitol antibiotic neamine has been modified chemically by removing one or two hydroxyl groups from the 2-deoxystreptamine moiety to give 5- and 6- deoxyneamines (5 and 10), as well as 5,6-dideoxyneamine (15). Their antimicrobial activities were determined against several microorganisms, including kanamycin-resistant strains.