Anthracyclines XVII: The synthesis of 2 - fluoro and 3 - fluoro -4-demethoxydaunomycin

2- Fluoro and 3 - fluoro-4-demethoxydaunomycinone have been prepared by phthalide annelation of the quinone monoacetal(10), which was in turn prepared from the previously described fully oxygenated Ketone (1). Extensions of this approach to permit inclusion of a chiral induction step are also evaluated. The title compounds were prepared by glycosidation of the appropriate racemic aglycones and the merits of different methods of attaching the sugar are discussed.