Synthesis of active nitroguaiacol ether derivatives of streptomycin.

The synthesis, purification, and biological properties of nitroguaiacol ether derivatives of streptomycin and their corresponding radioactive reduced products were examined. These derivatives are biologically active against gram-positive and gram-negative eubacteria and they are also photoreactive because of the presence of the nitroguaiacol group in the molecule. We demonstrated that these derivatives can be used as streptomycin analogs in photoaffinity labeling of the macromolecular structures related to the mode of action of the antibiotic.