4-demethoxy-4-amino-anthracyclines

Anthracycline glycosides of the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom and the other of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof are antitumor agents. These glycosides may be prepared from a daunomycinone derivative of formula (II): ##STR2## in which the 4-amino group is protected. 4-Demethoxy-4-amino-daunomycinone (II) and an earlier intermediate in its preparation, 4-demethoxy-4-amino-7-deoxy-daunomycinone (IX), can be diazotized followed by mild reduction to form 4-demethoxy-daunomycinone or 4-demethoxy-7-deoxy-daunomycinone respectively. 4-Demethoxy-daunomycinone can be converted into another antitumor anthracycline glycoside, 4-demethoxy-daunorubicin.