3-N-Substituted aminomethyl derivatives of rifamycin SV. A convenient method of synthesis, cyclization of certain derivatives, and anticellular and antiviral activities of several derivatives.

A new synthesis of Mannich bases of rifamycin SV using the Borch2 procedure with rifaldehyde is described. This new synthesis offers two advantages over the previously published method. It provides a route to monoalkyl-aminomethylrifamycins (le-h) and to unsubstituted aminomethylrifamycins that were not accessible by the old procedure. The new method also offers a preparative route to Mannich bases 1a and 1b were needed in multigram quantities for biological testing. In addition, the cyclization of certain of the monoalkylaminomethylrifamycins to the novel N,15-didehydro-15-epi[methano(alkylimino)]rifamycin SV derivatives (2) is described. The anticellular and antiviral effects of representatives of both series of compounds against cultured mouse cells and murine oncornavirus are are discussed.