Preparation and properties of derivatives of virginiamycin S.

Reduction of virginiamycin S with sodium borohydride produces allo- and normal-dihydro-virginiamycin S. Reduction of the tosylhydrazone of virginiamycin S with sodium cyanoborohydride affords deoxyvirginiamycin S. These compounds are less active than virginiamycin S. Like virginiamycin S they enhance the activity of virginiamycin M1.