Amides of N15-alkyl and N15,N15-dialkyl teicoplanin derivatives

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new N⁶³ amides of N¹⁵-alkyl and N¹⁵,N¹⁵-dialkyl derivatives of teicoplanin antibiotics and to a process for preparing them. The compounds of the invention show a good antibacterial activity mainly against gram-positive bacteria and allow an easy pharmaceutical formulation.

Description: The present invention is directed to amides of N¹⁵ alkyl and N¹⁵,N¹⁵-dialkyl derivatives of teicoplanin compounds having the following formula I wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer comprised between zero and 6, p is an integer comprised between 1 and 6, extremes included. X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl; hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl; amino(C₂-C₄)alkyl;(C₁-C₃)alkylamino(C₂-C₄)alkyl; R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, carboxy(C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxamino(C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylcarboxy(C₁-C₃)-alkylamido, (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, a group or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from (C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxy, (C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, and carboxamido and An ⊖ is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkylcarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. Teicoplanin is the international non-proprietary name (INN) of the antibiotic substance formerly named teichomycin which is obtained by cultivating the strain Actinoplanes teichomyceticus nov. sp. ATCC 31121 in a culture medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic salts (see U.S. Patent No. 4,239,751). According to the procedure described in the above cited patent an antibiotic complex containing Teichomycin A₁, A₂ and A₃ is recovered from the separated fermentation broth by extraction with a suitable water insoluble organic solvent and precipitation from the extracting solvent according to common procedures. Teichomycin A₂, which is the major factor of the isolated antibiotic complex, is then separated from the other factors by means of column chromatography on Sephadex R . British Patent No. 2121401 discloses that antibiotic Teichomycin A₂ actually is a mixture of five closely related co-produced main components. It is possible to represent teicoplanin A₂ (formerly Teichomycin A₂) main components 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 by the above formula I wherein R is hydrogen, Y is hydroxy, A represents -N[(C₁₀-C₁₁)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents N-acetyl-beta-D-2--deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents alpha-D-mannopyranosyl. More particularly, in teicoplanin A₂ component 1, the [(C₁₀-C₁₁)-aliphatic acyl] substituent represents Z-decenoyl, in teicoplanin A₂ component 2 represents 8-methyl-nonanoyl, in teicoplanin A₂ component 3 represents decanoyl, in teicoplanin A₂ component 4 represents 8-methyldecanoyl, in teicoplanin A₂ component 5 represents 9-methyldecanoyl. European Patent Application Ser. No. 88110194.3 describes production of teicoplanin components where the aliphatic acyl group of the beta-D-2-deoxy-2-aminoglucopyranosyl moiety is a n-nonanoyl (compound B or RS3) or a 6-methyl octanoyl group (compound A or RS4). In the paper entitled: "Isolation by HPLC and structural determination of minor components of teicoplanin" given by Zanol et al., at the 17th International Symposium on chromatography, Wien, September 25-30, 1988, other two teicoplanin compounds (RS1 and RS2) are described. Said compounds are characterized in that the aliphatic acyl moieties of the beta-D-2-deoxy-2-aminoglucopyranosyl moiety are respectively methyl-undecanoyl and dodecanoyl. All the sugar moieties, when present, are linked to the teicoplanin nucleus through O-glycosidic bonds. In addition, it has been found that it is possible to transform teicoplanin, a pure factor thereof or a mixture of any of said factors in any proportion, into unitary antibiotic products by means of selective hydrolysis of one or two sugar moieties. They are named antibiotic L 17054 and antibiotic L 17046 and are described in European Patent Application Publication No. 119575 and European Patent Application Publication No. 119574, respectively. Preferred hydrolysis conditions for the production of antibiotic L 17054 are: 0.5 N hydrochloric acid at a temperature between 70°C and 90°C and for a time which is generally between 15 and 90 min. Antibiotic L 17054 is represented by the above formula I wherein Y is hydroxy, R and A represent hydrogen, B represents N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents alpha-D-mannopyranosyl wherein the sugar moieties are linked to the peptidic nucleus through an O-glycosidic bond. Preferred hydrolysis conditions for the preparation of antibiotics L 17046 are: 1-3 N hydrochloric acid, at a temperature between 50° and 90°C and for a time which is generally between 30 and 60 min. Antibiotic L 17046 is represented by the above formula I wherein Y is hydroxy, R, A and M represent hydrogen atoms, and B is N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl wherein the sugar moiety is linked to the peptidic nucleus through an O-glycosidic bond. European Patent Application Publication No. 301247 describes de-mannosyl teicoplanin derivatives, i.e. compounds of the formula I above wherein A and B are different from hydrogen and M is hydrogen. The complete selective cleavage of all the sugar moieties of the teicoplanin compounds gives an aglycone molecule which is called antibiotic L 17392, or deglucoteicoplanin, and is represented by the above formula I wherein Y is hydroxy, and R, A, B, and M each individually represents a hydrogen atom. This selective hydrolysis process is described in European Patent Application Publication No. 146053. A substance having the same structural formula is disclosed in European Patent Application Publication No. 0090578 and is named antibiotic A 41030 factor B. This substance is obtained by means of microbiological process which involves the fermentation of the strain Streptomyces virginiae NRRL 12525 or Streptomyces virginiae NRRL 15156 in a suitable medium, the isolation, purification and separation into its components of antibiotic A 41030, an antibiotic complex of at least seven factors, antibiotic A 41030 factor B, included. All the above named compounds, i.e. teicoplanin, teicoplanin A₂ complex, teicoplanin A₂ component 1, teicoplanin A₂ component 2, teicoplanin A₂ component 3, teicoplanin A₂ component 4, teicoplanin A₂ component 5, antibiotic L 17054, antibiotic L 17046, antibiotic L 17392, compound A or RS4, compound B or RS3, the de-mannosyl derivatives of European Patent Application Publication No. 301247 and any mixture thereof in any proportion, are suitable starting materials for the preparation of the amide derivatives of the invention. In the present specification "teicoplanin compound" or "teicoplanin starting material" is used to indicate any one of the above starting materials, i.e. teicoplanin as obtained according to U.S. patent 4,239,751, any further purification thereof, teicoplanin A₂ complex, a compound of the above formula I wherein R is hydrogen, Y is hydroxy, A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl, with the proviso that B may represent hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen, a salt thereof, or a mixture thereof in any proportion. As used herein the term "alkyl", either alone or in combination with other substituents, includes both straight and branched hydrocarbon groups; more particularly, "(C₁-C₆)alkyl" represents a straight or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon chain of 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 1-hexanyl, 2-hexanyl, 3-hexanyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyl, 4-methyl-1-pentyl and 3-methyl-1-pentyl; likewise, "(C₁-C₄)alkyl" represents a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain of 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as those alkyl of 1 to 4 carbons exemplified above. The term "halogen" represents an halogen atom selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine an iodine. The expression "a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may optionally contain a further heterogroup selected form -O-, -S- and -NR¹³ (or-NR¹⁴)" include, for instance, the following heterocyclic groups: morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyrazolidinyl, 1,3-oxazolidinyl, 1,3-thiazolidinyl and hexahydroazepinyl, which may optionally be substituted by one or two (C₁-C₄)alkyl group on the carbon skeleton. A preferred group of compounds of the invention is represented by those compounds of formula I wherein R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl and the other substituents are as defined above. A further preferred group of compounds of the invention is represented by those compounds of formula I wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵ m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, OR⁷, or NR⁷R⁸; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, m is zero or 1, n is an integer comprised between zero and 3, p is an integer comprised between 1 and 3 X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p is 1 or 2, and R⁵ is different from OH Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. Another further preferred group of compounds of the invention is represented by those compounds of formula I wherein: R¹ is H or CH₃, R² represents a group as defined wherein R³ is H or CH₃, R⁴ is H or CH₃; R⁵ is H or OH; m is zero or 1, n ranges from 0 to 2, p is 1 or 2, R⁶ is H, OR⁷ or NR⁷R⁸ and R⁷ and R⁸ are independently H or CH₃ Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogeno(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. Another group of preferred compounds of the invention is represented by those compounds of formula I wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵ m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, m is zero or 1, n is an integer comprised between zero and 6, p is an integer comprised between 1 and 6 X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH Y represents a group selected from: -NH₂, -NHC₄H₉, -NH(CH₂)₄-OH, - NH(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂-OH, -NHCH₂COOH, -NHCH₂COOCH₂C₆H₅, -NHCH₂COOC₂H₅, -NH-CH₂CONH₂, -NH-CH₂-CON(C₂H₅)₂, -NH-CH-(COOCH₃)-(CH₂)₄NHCOOCH₂C₆H₅, -NH-CH-(COOCH₃)-(CH₂)₄NH₂, -NH-CH-(CONH₂)CH₂CONH₂, -NH-(CH₂) q -NH₂, -NH-(CH₂ q NHCH₃, -NH(CH₂) q -N(CH₃)₂, -NH-(CH₂) q N(C₂H₅)₂, -HN(CH₂) q N(CH₃)(C₂H₅), -NH(CH₂) q N(C₄H₉)₂ wherein q represents 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 -NH-(CH₂)₂N(C₂H₄OH)(C₂H₄Cl); -NH(CH₂)₂N[(CH₂)₄OH]₂, -NH(CH₂)₄N(C₂H₄Cl)₂, -NH-(CH₂)₃N(C₄H₉)₂, -NH-CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂-N(C₂H₅)₂ -N(CH₃)₂, N(CH₂CH₂OH)₂, -N(CH₂CH₂NH₂)₂, -N(CH₂CH₂NHCH₃)₂, -N[CH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₂]₂, -N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂NH₂), -N(CH₃)[(CH₂)NHCH₃], -N(CH₃)[(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂], -N(CH₃)[(CH₂)₃NH(CH₃)], -N(C₂H₅)[(CH₂)₂-NHCH₃], -N[CH₂CH₂CH₂N(C₂H₅)₂]₂, The compounds of the invention can form salts according to conventional procedures. In particular, those compounds of formula I wherein R¹ represents hydrogen as well as those compounds of formula I wherein the group -NR⁹R¹⁰ contains further amine functions from acid addition salts. In addition, those compounds of the invention which contain acid functions in the -NR⁹R¹⁰ moiety may also form base addition salts. In general, those compounds of the invention which contain acid and basic functions can form internal salts. For the scope of the present invention the "internal salts" are encompassed by the definition of the "non-salt" form. Preferred addition salts of the compounds of this invention are the pharmaceutically acceptable acid and/or base addition salts. With the term "pharmaceutically acceptable acid and/or base addition salts" are intended those salts with acids and/or bases which from biological, manufacturing and formulation standpoint are compatible with the pharmaceutical practice as well as with the use in the animal growth promotion. Representative and suitable acid addition salts of the compounds of formula I include those salts formed by standard reaction with both organic and inorganic acids such as, for example, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, acetic, trifluoroacetic, trichloroacetic, succinic, citric, ascorbic, lactic, maleic, fumaric, palmitic, cholic, pamoic, mucic, glutamic, camphoric, glutaric, glycolic, phthalic, tartaric, lauric, stearic, salicylic, methanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, sorbic, picric, benzoic, cinnamic and the like acids. Representative examples of these bases are: alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal hydroxide such sodium, potassium, and calcium hydroxide; ammonia and organic aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic amines such as methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, and picoline. The transformation of the free amino or non-salt compounds of the invention into the corresponding addition salts, and the reverse, i.e. the transformation of an addition salt of a compound of the invention into the non-salt or free amino form, are within the ordinary technical skill and are encompassed by the present invention. For instance, a compound of formula I can be transformed into the corresponding acid or base addition-salt by dissolving the non-salt form in an aqueous solvent and adding a slight molar excess of the selected acid or base. The resulting solution or suspension is then lyophilized to recover the desired salt. Instead of lyophilizing, in some instances, it is possible to recover the final salt by extraction with an organic solvent, concentration to a small volume of the separated organic phase and precipitation by adding a non-solvent. In case the final salt is unsoluble in an organic solvent where the non-salt form is soluble it is recovered by filtration from the organic solution of the non-salt form after addition of the stoichiometric amount or a slight molar excess of the selected acid or base. The non-salt form can be prepared from a corresponding acid or base salt dissolved in an aqueous solvent which is then neutralized to free the non-salt form. This is then recovered for instance by extraction with an organic solvent or is transformed into another base or acid addition salt by adding the selected acid or base and working up as above. When following the neutralization desalting is necessary, a common desalting procedure may be employed. For example, column chromatography on controlled pore polydextrane resins (such as Sephadex L H 20) or silanized silica gel may be conveniently used. After eluting the undesired salts with an aqueous solution, the desired product is eluted by means of linear gradient or step-gradient of a mixture of water and a polar or apolar organic solvent, such as acetonitrile/water from 50:50 to about 100% acetonitrile. As is known in the art, the salt formation either with pharmaceutically acceptable acids (bases) or non-pharmaceutically acceptable acids (bases) may be used as a convenient purification technique. After formation and isolation, the salt form of a compound of formula I can be transformed into the corresponding non-salt or into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. In some instances the acid addition salt of a compound of formula I is more soluble in water and hydrophilic solvents and has an increased chemical stability. However, in view of the similarity of the properties of the compounds of formula I and their salts, what is said in the present application when dealing with the biological activities of the compounds of formula I applies also to their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and viceversa. Amides of teicoplanin compounds are described in European Patent Application Publication No. 218099. In particular, this application describes N⁶³carboxyamides of formula I wherein Y has the meanings reported above and the groups linked to the N¹⁵ atom are either two hydrogen atoms or a hydrogen atom and a protecting group of the amino function. These N⁶³carboxyamides shown an interesting degree of activity as semi-synthetic antibacterial agents mainly active against gram positive bacteria. The compounds of the invention, which in addition to the amidic substituent (Y in formula I) have also alkylic substituents at the N¹⁵amino function (R¹ and R² in formula I) possess a higher water solubility and consequently allow an easier pharmaceutical formulation without substantially affecting the degree of activity of the antibiotic substances. In particular, the compounds of the present invention, due to this improved water solubility, can easily be formulated as injectables and can be administered by intramuscular route at high concentrations thus using a smaller amount of vehicle without any local tolerability problem. Due to the particular characteristics of the different final products there are many procedures which can be employed for preparing the compounds according to the present invention. Some general procedures are described hereinbelow: Procedure A : Reaction of a N⁶³amide derivative of a teicoplanin compound of formula I wherein Y is as defined and R¹ and R² are replaced by two hydrogen atoms, with an alkyl halide having formula (halo)R² wherein R² is as defined and (halo) represents an halogen atom, in a polar aprotic solvent, in the presence of a base in order to prepare the N¹⁵ monoalkyl derivative of said teicoplanin amide. Procedure B : Reductive alkylation of a N⁶³ amide derivative of a teicoplanin compound of formula I wherein Y is as defined and R¹ and R² are substituted by two hydrogen atoms with a carbonyl compound, in an organic polar solvent, in the presence of a suitable reducing agent in order to prepare the N¹⁵monoalkyl derivative of said teicoplanin amide. Procedure C : Reaction of a N¹⁵alkyl (or N¹⁵,N¹⁵-di-alkyl) derivative of a teicoplanin compound of formula I wherein R¹ and R² are as defined, and Y is substituted by an -OH group, with a proper amine in a polar aprotic solvent in the presence of a condensing agent. Procedure D : Reductive alkylation of the N¹⁵monoalkyl derivative of teicoplanin amide of formula I wherein R² and Y are as defined, with a carbonyl compound in the presence of a suitable organic acid and a reducing agent in order to obtain the N¹⁵,N¹⁵dialkyl derivative of said teicoplanin amide. Procedure E : Selective hydrolysis of the corresponding amide of N¹⁵alkyl (or N¹⁵,N¹⁵di-alkyl) derivative of teicoplanin in order to remove (partially or totally) the sugar moieties A, B, and M stated above. Procedure F : Catalytic hydrogenolysis of a compound of the invention wherein R¹² is a phenyl methyloxycarbonyl to give the corresponding compound wherein R¹² is H. The starting material of the procedures A and B is a N⁶³ amide derived from a teicoplanin compound i.e. a compound of formula I wherein Y is as defined and R¹ and R² are substituted by two hydrogen atoms. A general procedure for preparing said starting material is described in European Patent Application Publication No. 218099. According to this procedure "a teicoplanin starting material" as defined above is reacted with a proper amine NHR⁹R¹⁰ (in which R⁹ and R¹⁰ are as defined above) in an inert organic solvent in the presence of a condensing agent such as diphenylphosphorylazide (DPPA). According to a preferred embodiment of procedure A of the present invention for preparing a N¹⁵ mono-alkyl derivative of a N⁶³ teicoplanin amide, the proper amide used as starting material is reacted with an alkyl halide R²(halo), wherein the alkyl portion is represented by an "alkyl" group which corresponds to the desired meaning of R² in the final product and the halide is preferably a chloride, bromide or iodide and most preferably bromide or chloride. The reaction occurs at about room temperature in the presence of an organic or inorganic base of medium strength such as triethylamine, trimethylamine, tri-butylamine, sodium or potassium bicarbonate and the like. Preferably, the reaction medium includes also an organic solvent capable of at least partially solubilizing the starting materials such as organic amides, alkyl ethers, ethers of glycols and polyols, phosphoramides, sulfoxides and aromatic compounds e.g., dimethylformamide, dimethoxyethane, hexamethylphosphoramide, dimethylsulfoxide, benzene, toluene and mixtures thereof. This solvent should have a low water content (generally below about 5%). The alkyl halide and the starting teicoplanin derivative are preferably employed in about equimolecular proportion or in a slight molar excess of the alkyl halide so that the mono-alkyl derivative is obtained in good yields. The reaction occurs at about room temperature so that external heating is not in general necessary, even if the reaction can be carried out at temperatures of 40-70°C. A preferred embodiment of the procedure B for preparing a N⁶³ amide derivative of N¹⁵ alkyl teicoplanin compound is a process which comprises: a) adding to a suspension of an amide of teicoplanin compound (prepared e.g. as defined in European patent Application Publication No. 218099) in an organic polar protic solvent a suitable amount of an alkali metal borohydride at a temperature comprised between 0°C and 30°C, then b) adding a molar excess of a carbonyl compound of at least 20 times with respect to teicoplanin starting material, and c) reacting the resulting solution with a reducing agent, preferably a alkali metal borohydride. From among the organic polar protic solvents lower alkanols having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms are preferred. In particular, methanol is the preferred solvent used. Sometimes, in particular cases, a small amount of a polar aprotic co-solvent can be added to completely dissolve teicoplanin starting material during the course of the reaction, e.g. N, N-dimethylformamide, 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro 2(1H)-pyramidone (DMPU), dimethylsulfoxide. The temperature at which the reaction is carried out is comprised between 0°C and 30°C, preferably it ranges from 10°C to 15°C. It is important to use a large molar excess of carbonyl compound, generally from 20 to 100 times with respect to teicoplanin starting material. The carbonyl compound used has the same carbon skeleton of substituent R² and whose oxo group is on the carbon atom which links to the N¹⁵-amino group of teicoplanin moiety. For example, if is the desired N¹⁵monoalkyl group R², then is the useful carbonyl compound which has to be employed as starting reactant. Sodium borohydride is the preferred alkali metal borohydride used in step a). As metal alkali borohydride used in the step c) the sodium borohydride is the preferred one, but also the potassium and the sodium cyano-borohydride can be used. According to a preferred embodiment of this procedure B it is important to maintain the reactants addition order as indicated above in steps a), b) and c). In a further preferred embodiment of the procedure B before adding the excess of carbonyl compound to the reaction mixture, the alkali metal borohydride is allowed to completely decompose under stirring. Generally it takes a time comprised between 30 minutes and 120 minutes. In particular, the carbonyl compound can be preferably added when the reaction mixture is a clear solution. The suitable amount of alkali metal borohydride added can be different depending on the particular amide used as the starting material, on the solvent used and on the temperature of the reaction, but it is advisable to add an amount of alkali metal borohydride such that the pH of the reaction mixture is alkaline, preferably between pH 8 and 10, as determined after diluting a sample of the non-aqueous reaction mixture with 4 volumes of water. The reaction times of the process of this procedure B depend on the factors reported above such as the starting compound used, the solvent, the amount of alkali metal borohydride used and the like, and on the structure of reactant carbonyl compounds but, in general, it is preferred to leave the reaction mixture under stirring from 1 to 10 h after the addition of the reactants and before treating with the reducing agent. The general procedure C for preparing a compound of the invention is represented by the reaction (amidation) of a suitable teicoplanin starting material wherein R¹ and R² are as above defined and Y is an OH group with the selected amine of formula HNR⁹R¹⁰ wherein R⁹ and R¹⁰ have the same meaning as above, in an inert organic solvent in the presence of a condensing agent. The particular starting material of this procedure C (i.e. the teicoplanin compound wherein R¹ and/or R² are alkyl groups as defined) can be prepared with the same methods A or B defined before, but starting from a compound of formula I wherein Y, R¹ and R² are substituted by hydrogen atoms. In carrying out the amidation for preparing the compounds of this invention, sometimes, and especially when at least one of A, B, and M in the teicoplanin starting material represent hydrogen, could be convenient to protect the primary amino function of the teicoplanin starting material in order to reduce possible undesired side-reactions. Also, when the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ contains further reactive functions such as amino or carboxy groups, which may unfavourably interfere with the course of the amidation they are protected by methods known per se in the art such as those described in reference books like T.W. Greene, "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1981, and M. Mc. Omie "Protecting Groups in Organic Chemistry" Plenum Press, New York, 1973. These protecting groups must be stable at the conditions of the reaction process, must not unfavorably interfere with the main amidation reaction, and must be easily cleavable and removable from the reaction medium at the end of the reaction without altering the newly formed amide bond. Representative examples of N-protecting groups which may be advantageously used in the process of the invention for protecting an amino function both in the teicoplanin starting material and, when appropriate, in the R⁹ and R¹⁰ moiety of the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ are carbamate forming reagents characterized by the following oxycarbonyl groups: 1,1-dimethylpropynyloxycarbonyl, t-butyloxycarbonyl, vinyloxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, cinnamyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 3,4-dimethoxy-6-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 2,4-dichlorobenzyloxycarbonyl, 5-benzisoxazolylmethyloxycarbonyl, 9-anthranylmethyloxycarbonyl, diphenylmethyloxycarbonyl, isonicotinyloxycarbonyl, S-benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like. A convenient means of protection in the case the amine reactant HNR⁹R¹⁰ contains a primary amino function as substituent for R⁹ and/or R¹⁰, is, in some instances, the formation of a benzyliden derivative which may be prepared by reacting the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ with benzaldehyde in a lower alkanol, such as ethanol, preferably at room temperature. After the reaction with the selected teicoplanin starting material has been completed, the benzylidene protecting group may be removed as known in the art, e.g. by treating with diluted mineral acid, preferably hydrochloric acid, at room temperature. Obviously, when the final compound of formula I contains groups which are labile under acidic conditions, e.g. when A, B or M represent sugar moieties as above defined which may be hydrolized in an acidic medium, other removal conditions must be used, such as catalytic hydrogenation using for instance Palladium on carbon as the catalyst to remove the proper protecting group. In this case, however, attention should be paid to the presence of groups which may be modified by catalytic hydrogenation. A typical consequence of the catalytic hydrogenation of a derivative of formula I wherein A represents a group as above defined whose acyl portion is Z-decenoyl (i.e. a teicoplanin A₂ component 1 derivative or a mixture containing it) is that it is at least partially transformed into the corresponding decanoyl derivative (i.e. a derivative of teicoplanin A₂ component 3). The man skilled in the art is capable, also on the basis of the present disclosure, of deciding which functions of the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ need to be protected, how they must be protected and the proper deprotection reaction which is necessary to free the final compound. For instance, a suitable protection for reactive carboxylic acid function is by forming an ester function. As it is appreciated by the skilled technician, the ultimate choice of the specific protecting group depends on the characteristics of the particular amide derivative which is desired. In fact, this amide function of the final compound should be stable at the condition of removal of the protecting group(s). Inert organic solvents useful for the condensation reaction are those organic aprotic solvents which do not unfavorably interfere with the reaction course and are capable of at least partially solubilizing the teicoplanin starting material. Examples of said inert organic solvents are organic amides, alkyl ethers, ethers of glycols and polyols, phosphoramides, sulfoxides and aromatic compounds. Preferred examples of inert organic solvents are: dimethylformamide, dimethoxyethane, hexamethylphosphoramide, dimethylsulfoxide, benzene, toluene and mixtures thereof. The condensing agent in the process of the invention is one suitable for forming amide bonds in organic compounds and in particular in peptide synthesis. Representative and preferred examples of condensing agents are (C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl or heterocyclic phosphorazidates such as, diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA), diethyl phosphorazidate, di(4-nitrophenyl)-phosphorazidate, dimorpholylphosphorazidate and diphenylphosphorochloridate. The preferred condensing agent is diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA). In procedure C, the amine reactant HNR⁹R¹⁰ is normally used in a molar excess. In general, a 2- to 6-fold molar excess is used while a 3- to 4-fold molar excess is preferred. For the amidation to proceed, it is necessary that the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ be capable of forming a salt with the carboxy function of the teicoplanin starting material. In case the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ is not strong enough to form such a salt in the selected reaction medium, it is necessary to add a salt-forming base to the reaction mixture at least in an equimolecular amount with the teicoplanin starting material. Examples of said salt-forming bases are tertiary organic aliphatic or alicyclic amines such as trimethylamine, triethylamine, N-methyl pyrrolidine or heterocyclic bases such as picoline, and the like. The condensing agent is generally employed in a slight molar excess such as from 1.2 to 1.7 and preferably is 1.5 times the teicoplanin starting compound. In addition, the amine reactant HNR⁹R¹⁰ may also conveniently be introduced in the reaction medium as a corresponding acid addition salt, e.g. the hydrochloride. In this case, at least a double molar proportion and preferably a 2 to 4 fold molar excess of a strong base capable of freeing the HNR⁹R¹⁰ amine from its salts, is used. Also in this case, the suitable base is a tertiary organic aliphatic or alicyclic amine like those exemplified above. In fact, at least in some instances, the use of salt of the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰, which is then freed in situ with the above mentioned bases, is greatly preferred especially when the salt is more stable than the corresponding free amine. The reaction temperature will vary considerably depending on the specific starting materials and reaction conditions. In general, it is preferred to conduct the reaction at temperatures between 0-20°C. Also the reaction time vary considerably depending on the other reaction parameters. In general the condensation reaction is completed in about 24-48 h. In any case, the reaction course is monitored by TLC or preferably by HPLC according to methods known in the art. On the basis of the results of these assays a man skilled in the art will be able to evaluate the reaction course and decide when to stop the reaction and start working up the reaction mass according to known per se techniques which include for instance extraction with solvents, precipitation by addition of non-solvents, etc., in conjunction with further separations and purifications by column chromatography. As already said, when protection of the HNR⁹R¹⁰ reactant or of the teicoplanin starting material, or of both of them, is necessary, the protected final compound is then de-protected according to procedures which are known per se and mainly depends on the protecting group involved. In case both the amine HNR⁹R¹⁰ and the teicoplanin starting material are protected, it might be convenient to use a similar type of protection which may be removed under the same conditions, so that only one de-protection step is needed to free both functions. It is also evident that in many instances a compound of the invention may be prepared in more than one way and that a compound of the invention may be transformed into another by means of known per se reactions. For instance, when the HNR⁹R¹⁰ amine is a diamine compound such as HN(R⁹)-(CH₂)₄-NR¹¹R¹² defined above, the desired amide compound of formula I may be prepared either directly by condensing said amine, conveniently protected if necessary, with the selected starting material or it can be prepared by reacting an amide of formula I wherein the substituent R² is (CH₂)₄-(halo), wherein halo is preferably a chlorine or bromine atom with an amino of formula HNR¹¹R¹². Moreover, an amide compound of formula I, bearing a carboxy function on the -NR⁹R¹⁰ moiety may be transformed into the corresponding acyl ester function by usual techniques. More particularly, an ester function is in general formed by reacting the carboxy containing product with a preparation of an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst at a temperature varying between room temperature and the boiling point of the reaction mixture. The acid is preferably a mineral acid and the alcohol contains the moiety that is to be linked to the carboxylic function in the ester derivative. An inert solvent may also by used. Obviously, a compound of formula I bearing a carboxylic ester function on the -NR⁹R¹⁰ substituent may be transformed into the corresponding carboxylic compound by hydrolysis. A preferred hydrolysis technique involves an aqueous solution of an alkali metal carbonate, like sodium or potassium carbonate, at a temperature from room temperature to the boiling point of the reaction mixture. A compound of formula I bearing an -NH₂ function on the -NR¹R² moiety may be transformed into the corresponding monoalkylamino derivative by means of a "reductive alkylation" which involves reacting it with the selected carbonyl derivative (which is capable of giving the desired alkyl substituent upon reduction) to form the corresponding Schiff base intermediate which is then reduced in the presence of a suitable reducing agent such as sodium or potassium borohydride. When a free amino group is present in the -NR⁹R¹⁰ moiety of formula I, it may be alkylated as known in the art, e.g. by reacting it, or possibly the corresponding compound wherein the primary amino group of the teicoplanin moiety has been protected in case it is unsubstituted with an alkyl halide (bromide, chloride or iodide). Likewise, a secondary amino function may be transformed into a tertiary one or a tertiary amino function may be quaternized. The procedure D, which permits obtaining the N¹⁵, N¹⁵-dialkyl compounds derived from the teicoplanin amide, comprises adding to a suspension of a monoalkyl derivative of teicoplanin amide, in an organic polar protic solvent a molar excess of a carbonyl compound having the same carbon skeleton of the substituents R¹ above and whose oxo group is on the carbon atom which is to link the N¹⁵-amino group of the teicoplanin moiety, said molar excess being of at least 30 times with respect to the teicoplanin starting material, in the presence of an organic acid of such strength and in such amount that a sample of the obtained mixture diluted with four volumes of water shows a pH between 2.5 and 4, said acid being further characterized in that, under the reaction conditions, it cannot yield a reduction product which is a competitor of the carbonyl compound reactant in the reaction with the N¹⁵ amino group of the teicoplanin moiety, and reacting the resulting mixture with a metal alkali borohydride at a temperature between 0°C and 60°C. Among the organic polar protic solvents, alkyl alcohols having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms are preferred. Examples of alcohols which can be used are methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol. In particular, methanol is preferred. Sometimes in particular cases, a small amount of a polar co-solvent can be added to completely dissolve teicoplanin starting material during the course of the reaction, e.g. N,N-dimethylformamide, 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyramidone (DMPU), dimethylsulfoxide. As the reducing agent, alkali metal borohydrides are used, among which sodium borohydride is the preferred one, but also potassium and sodium cyano-borohydrides can be conveniently used. The temperature can be preferably maintained between 30°C and 40°C. The molar excess of the reactants with respect to teicoplanin ranges preferably from 30 to 300 times for aldehydes or ketones. The organic acid which is used in the present invention is characterized by having such a strength to show a pH between 2.5 and 4 when a sample of the reaction mixture is added to 4 volumes of water before adding the reducing agent. Furthermore, said acid must not negatively interfere in the reaction course. It means that it preferably has not to be reduced by the reducing agent employed (NaBH₄ and the like) or, if a reaction occurs, the product of this reaction is not a competitor with the carbonyl compound chosen as starting material. The term "competitor" as used in specification means any group which can be linked to an amino group with a bond like a "Schiff base" and subsequently reduced to an alkyl moiety, being said group different from the carbonyl compound used as starting material. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention when an aldehyde is used as the carbonyl compound the suitable acid to be preferably used is the carboxylic acid corresponding to said aldehyde; for example, formic acid with formaldehyde, acetic acid with acetaldehyde and so on. In the case that a keto compound is used as the starting material, a preferred acid can be choosen among a (C₁-C₆)alkyl sulfonic acid and a (C₆-C₁₀)aryl sulfonic acid such as for example paratoluensulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid and the like. The amount of acid used depends on several factors such as the teicoplanin starting material and the carbonyl compound but usually the desired pH is obtained when a molar excess of acid is used from 5 to 20 times with respect to teicoplanin. In addition, the sugar moiety of an amide compound of formula I having a N¹⁵ alkyl or a N¹⁵,N¹⁵dialkyl substituted may be selectively removed to transform it into another amide compound of formula I (procedure E). For example, an amide compound of formula I wherein A, B, and M represent a sugar moiety as above defined can be transformed into the corresponding compound wherein B and M are as above and A is hydrogen by means of controlled acid hydrolysis in a strong concentrated aqueous organic acid. The concentrated organic acid in this case is preferably aqueous trifluoroacetic acid at a concentration between 75% and 95%, and the reaction temperature is preferably between 10° and 50°C. The preferred hydrolysis conditions are represented by about 90% trifluoroacetic acid at room temperature. The reaction time varies depending on the other specific reaction parameters but, in any case, the reaction may be monitored by TLC or preferably HPLC techniques. An analogous selective hydrolysis is reported in European Patent Application Publication No. 146822. Similarly, amide compounds of formula I wherein A, B, and M represent a sugar moiety as above defined or A represents hydrogen and B and M represent sugar moieties as above defined can be transformed into the corresponding amide compounds of formula I wherein A and M represents hydrogen and B represent a sugar moiety as defined by means of a selective hydrolysis with a strong acid in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent selected from ethers, ketones, and mixture thereof which are liquid at room temperature. Preferred hydrolysis conditions are in this case represented by the use of a concentrated mineral acid in the presence of an ether such as dimethoxyethane at room temperature. Also in this case, the reaction course may be monitored by TLC or preferably HPLC. An analogous selective hydrolysis is reported in European Patent Application Publication No. 175100. According to another embodiment of the present invention, an amide compound of formula I wherein A, B and M represent sugar moieties as defined above, an amide compound of formula I wherein A represents hydrogen and B and M represent the above defined sugar moieties, or an amide compound of formula I wherein A and M represent hydrogen, and B represents a sugar moiety as above defined may be transformed into the corresponding amide compound of formula I wherein A, B and M represent hydrogen atoms by means of a selective hydrolysis in an organic protic solvent selected from aliphatic acids and alpha-halogenated aliphatic acids which at the reaction temperature are liquids, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic alkanols which at the reaction temperature are liquids slightly mixable with water, phenylsubstituted lower alkanols wherein the phenyl moiety may optionally carry (C₁-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₄)alkoxy or halo rests which at the reaction temperature are liquids slightly mixable with water, and beta-polyhalogenated lower alkanols, which at the reaction temperature are liquids; in the presence of a strong acid, compatible with the solvent, selected from strong mineral acids, strong organic acids and strong acid cation exchange resins in the hydrogen form and at a temperature between 20°C and 100°C. In this case, the preferred hydrolysis conditions are represented by the use of a mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid, in an haloalkanol such as trifluoroethanol, at a temperature between 65°C and 85°C. Analogous selective hydrolysis conditions on a similar substrate are described in European Patent Application Publication No. 146053. The procedure G comprises the catalytic hydrogenolysis of a compound of the invention wherein R¹² is a phenyl methyloxycarbonyl to give the corresponding compound in which R¹² is H. The amide derivatives where R¹² is as defined can be prepared according to one of the above mentioned procedures and the conditions of the catalytic hydrogenolysis are the same conditions described above which permit de-protecting the amino group. In the following table (Table I) the structure formulas of representative examples of compounds of the invention are reported. In Table II hereinbelow, the starting materials of the above derivatives are given. Table II is divided in Table IIA, Table IIB, Table IIC, Table IID, Table IIE, Table IIF according to the corresponding procedures A, B, C, D, E, F described above. In Table III herein below the yields calculated from the proper starting material (which is reported in Table II) together with the proper procedure of preparation are given. HPLC Analysis The following table (table IV) reports the t R of representative examples of the compounds of the invention. The assays were run with a VARIAN model 5000 LC pump equipped with a 20 microl loop injector Rheodyne Model 7125. Columns : pre-column (1.9 cm) Hibar LiChro Cart 25-4 MERCK pre-packed with LiChrosorb RP-8 (20-30 micrometer) followed by a column Hibar RT 250-4 MERCK pre-packed with LiChrosorb RP-8 (10 micrometer). Eluents : A, 0.2% aq. HCOONH₄ and B, CH₃CN Injection : 20 microl - Flow rate : 2 ml/min. The reaction is monitored by injecting, at established times, samples of the solutions (or suspensions) diluted with the solvent mixture (CH₃CN : H₂O, 6:4 (v/v)) enough to obtain final concentrations of either 1, 2 or 3 mg/ml. Linear gradient : from 20 to 60% of B in A in 30 min. Compound (No.) HPLC (t R , min) 1 13.2 4 14.9 7 10.3 8 9.9 10 9.6 11 6.2 12 12.2 13 11.3 14 12.1 15 14.4 38 12.5 41 12.5 43 11.9 53 12.4 55 13.1 62 10.9 63 5.8 Acid base titrations The products are dissolved in methylcellosolve (MCS):H₂O 4:1 (v/v), then an excess of 0.01 N HCl in the same solvent mixture is added and the resulting solutions are titrated with 0.01 N NaOH. The equivalent weights of representative compounds of the invention are reported in table V, below. Compound (No.) E.W. 1 1015 (x 2) 4 1061 (x 2) 7 988 (x 2) 8 743 (x 2) 10 1014(x 2) 11 759 (x 2) 12 1003 (x 2) 13 712 (x 2) 14 1024 (x 2) 15 756 (x 2) 38 1008 (x 2) 41 689 (x 3) 43 499 (x 3) 53 981 (x 2) 55 1002 (x 2) 62 687 (x 2) 63 711 (x 2) Table VI reports ¹HNMR data obtained at 500 MHz with a Bruker AM-500 Spectrometer in DMSO-d₆ with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as the internal reference (delta = 0.00 ppm) The antibacterial activity of the compounds of the invention can be demonstrated in vitro by means of standard agar-dilution tests. Isosensitest broth (Oxoid) and Todd-Hewitt broth (Difco) are used for growing staphylococci and streptococci, respectively. Broth cultures are diluted so that the final inoculum is about 10⁴ colony forming units/ml (CFU/ml). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is considered as the lowest concentration which shows no visible growth after 18-24 h incubation at 37°C. The results of the antibacterial testing of representative compounds of formula I are summarized in Table VII below: The ED₅₀ values (mg/kg) of representative compounds of the invention in vitro tests in mice experimentally infected with S.pyogenes L 49 according to the procedure described by V. Arioli et al., Journal of Antibiotics 29 ; 511 (1976) are reported in Table VIII below: Compound ED₅₀ (mg/Kg) Route of administration os s.c. 1 89.5 0.06 7 > 300 0.23 8 > 300 2.18 10 > 300 0.31 11 > 300 2.87 12 215 0.13 13 > 300 1.25 14 89.5 0.06 15 > 300 0.31 38 300 0.31 41 > 300 0.24 53 173 0.13 55 300 0.18 62 > 300 0.31 63 > 300 1.25 In view of the above reported antimicrobial activity, the compounds of the present invention can effectively be employed as the active ingredient of antimicrobial preparations used in human and veterinary medicine for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria which are susceptible to said active ingredients. In such treatments, these compounds may be employed as such or in the form of mixtures in any proportion. The compounds of the present invention can be administered orally, topically or parenterally wherein however, the parenteral administration is preferred. Depending on the route of administration, these compounds can be formulated into various dosage forms. Preparations for oral administration may be in the form of capsules, tablets, liquid solutions or suspensions. As known in the art the capsules and tablets may contain in addition to the active ingredient, conventional excipients such as diluents, e.g. lactose, calcium phosphate, sorbitol and the like, lubricants, e.g. magnesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol, binding agents, e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, sorbitol, tragacanth, acacia, flavoring agents, and acceptable disintegrating and wetting agents. The liquid preparations generally in the form of aqueous or oily solutions or suspensions, may contain conventional additives such as suspending agents. For topical use the compounds of the present invention may also be prepared in suitable forms for absorption through the mucous membranes of the nose and throat or bronchial tissues and may conveniently take the form of liquid sprays or inhalants, lozenges, or throat paints. For medication of the eyes or ears, the preparation may be presented in liquid or semi-liquid form. Topical applications may be formulated in hydrophobic or hydrophilic bases as ointments, creams, lotions, paints, or powders. For rectal administration the compounds of the invention are administered in the form of suppositories admixed with conventional vehicles, such as, for example, cocoa butter, wax, spermaceti or polyethylenglycols and their derivatives. Compositions for injection may take such forms as suspensions, solutions, or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the active ingredient may be in powder form for reconstitution at the time of delivery with a suitable vehicle, such as sterile water. The amount of active principle to be administered depends on various factors such as the size and conditions of the subject to be treated, the route and frequency of administration, and the causative agent involved. The compounds of the invention are generally effective at a dosage comprised between about 0.5 and about 30 mg of active ingredient per Kg of body weight, preferably divided in 2 to 4 administrations per day. Particularly desirable compositions are those prepared in the form of dosage units containing from about 20 to about 300 mg per unit. A representative example of preparation of a pharmaceutical composition is a parenteral solution which is prepared with 100 mg of compound No 1 dissolved in 1 ml of sterile water for injection. Besides their activity as medicaments, the compounds of the present invention can be used as animal growth promoters. For this purpose, one or more of the compounds of the invention is administered orally in a suitable feed. The exact concentration employed is that which is required to provide for the active agent in a growth promotant effective amount when normal amounts of feed are consumed. The addition of the active compounds of the invention to animal feed is preferably accomplished by preparing an appropriate feed premix containing the active compounds in an effective amount and incorporating the premix into the complete ration. Alternatively, an intermediate concentrate or feed supplement containing the active ingredient can be blended into the feed. The ways in which such feed premixes and complete rations can be prepared and administered are described in reference books (such as "Applied Animal Nutrition", W.H. Freedman and Co., S. Francisco, USA, 1969 or "Livestock Feeds and Feeding", O and B Books, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 1977) and are incorporated herein by reference. The following examples further illustrate the invention and must not be construed as limiting it. Examples 1-7 (Procedure A: reaction of an amide derivative of teicoplanin with an alkyl halide) Preparation of compounds: 14, 15, 28, 70, 71 A solution of 5 mmol of the proper starting N⁶³-carboxy-amide of teicoplanin A₂ or of deglucoteicoplanin (see Table IIA), 6 ml (about 43 mmol) of triethylamine (TEA) and 2.8 ml (24 mmol) of 2-methoxyethoxy-methyl chloride (MEM) (Aldrich) in 100 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) is stirred at room temperature for 60 min, afterwards 50 ml of absolute ethanol is added. The resulting solution is poured into 550 ml of ethyl acetate and a solid precipitated is obtained which is collected by filtration, washed with 200 ml of ethyl ether and suspended in 250 ml of a mixture acetonitrile:water 1:9 (v/v). By adding glacial acetic acid a clear solution forms (pH 3). This solution is loaded at the top of a column of 700 g of silanized Silica-gel (0.06-0.2 mm) Merck Co. in the above solvent mixture. The column is developed with a linear gradient from 10 to 80% of acetonitrile in water in 10 h at a flow rate of about 400 ml/h, while collecting 20 ml fractions which are checked by HPLC. Those fractions containing pure title compounds are pooled and enough n-butanol is added to obtain, after concentration of the resulting mixture at 45°C under reduced pressure, a final dry cloudy butanolic solution of about 100 ml. By adding 400 ml of ethyl acetate, a solid separates which is collected by filtration, washed with 200 ml of ethyl ether and dried in the air at room temperature overnight to yield the pure compounds of the title as the free bases. Preparation of compound 16, 30 . By following the above procedure A, but using 2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol (7.3 ml, about 50 mmol; Aldrich) as the reactant halide, a crude which contains compound 16 (or 30 depending on the starting material) is recovered after 24 h reaction at room temperature. The pure title compound is then obtained by reverse-phase column chromatography carried out as described for preparation of compound 14. Examples 8-89 Procedure B: Reductive alkylation of a teicoplanin amide. Preparation of compounds 1-3, 7, 8, 10-13, 17-19, 21, 22, 24-27, 31-37, 39-52, 54, 56-69, 72-91, 99-106 To a stirred suspension of 60 g (about 30 mmol) of the proper starting N⁶³ carboxyamide of teicoplanin A₂ or deglucoteicoplanin (see Table IIB) in 1.5 l methanol, 60 g (about 1.62 mol) of sodium borohydride is added portionwise while maintaining the temperature at about 45°C. After about 90 min, 200 mmol of the proper carbonyl compound (see Table IIB) is added at room temperature and stirring is continued for 60 min. The reaction mixture is then cooled at 5°C and 30 g (about 0.81 mol) of sodium borohydride is added in one portion, while cooling at 10-15°C. After about 30 min, 152 ml (about 2.64 mol) of glacial acetic acid is dropped in at room temperature and the resulting solution is evaporated at 40°C under reduced pressure. The residue is re-dissolved in 1.5 l of water and loaded at the top of a column of 2.4 g of silanized silica-gel (particle size 0.06-0.2 mm; Merck Co.) in water. The column is developed with 3 l of water, then with 3 l of a mixture acetonitrile:water 2:8 (v/v), with 3 l of acetonitrile:water 1:1 (v/v), and finally with 7 l of a 1:1 (v/v) mixture acetonitrile: water adjusted to pH 3.0 with glacial acetic acid. Fractions (200 ml) are collected and monitored by HPLC. Those fractions containing the pure title compound are pooled and enough n-butanol is added to obtain, after concentration of the resulting mixture at 40°C under vacuum, a dry butanolic suspension of about 300 ml. On adding 700 ml of ethyl ether, a solid separates which is collected by filtration, washed with 300 ml of ethyl ether and dried in vacuo at room temperature overnight to yield the title compounds, as the acetate. Examples 90-93 Procedure C: Reaction of a N¹⁵alkyl (or N¹⁵,N¹⁵dialkyl) derivative of teicoplanin with an amine Preparation of compounds 1, 20, 53 and 55 To a stirred solution of 2 mmol of a proper N¹⁵-alkyl or N¹⁵-methyl-N¹⁵-alkyl teicoplanin compound (see Table IIC) and of 5 mmol of the appropriate di-amine, di-hydrochloride in 50 ml of DMF, 13 mmol of TEA is added which is followed by 0.6 ml (2.8 mmol) of diphenylphosphorazide (DPPA). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature overnight, then it is poured into 500 ml of ethyl ether. The precipitate which forms is collected by filtration and re-dissolved in 150 ml of a mixture acetonitrile:water 1:9 (v/v), which is adjusted to pH 3 by glacial acetic acid. The resulting solution is then loaded on a column of 350 g of silanized Silica-gel (0.06-0.2 mm); Merck) in water. Chromatography is carried out as previously reported in Examples 1-7, to yield the title compounds, as the free bases. Examples 94-98 Procedure D: Reductive alkylation of a N⁶³teicoplanin amide with a carbonyl compound in order to obtain a N¹⁵,N¹⁵dialkyl derivative Preparation of compounds 4, 5, 9 and 23 . To a stirred suspension of 1 mmol of compound 1, 2, 7, 21 respectively in 100 ml of methanol, 4 ml (about 53 mmol) of 40% (by weight) aqueous formaldehyde and 0.4 ml (about 7 mmol) of anhydrous formic acid are added. The clear solution which forms is warmed to 30°C and 0.4 g (about 15 mmol) of sodium borohydride is added portionwise, while maintaining the reaction temperature at 35-40°C. After 60 min, 1.25 ml (about 20 mmol) of glacial acetic acid is added at room temperature and the solvents are evaporated at 40°C under reduced pressure. The residue is re-dissolved in water (about 100 ml) and purified by reverse-phase column chromatography as described in examples 1-7 to give the title compounds. Preparation of compound 38 By essentially following the same procedure for the preparation of compound 4 above but starting from a compound of formula I wherein A, B, M, are the sugar moieties as defined and R¹ and R² are replaced by two hydrogen atoms and Y represents -NH(CH₂)₂-N(CH₃)₂ the corresponding N¹⁵, N¹⁵ dimethyl derivative is obtained. Examples 99-101 Procedure E: Selective hydrolysis Preparation of compounds 6, 15 and 29 . A suspension of 1 mmol of the selected alkyl amide derivative of teicoplanin A₂ (compound 4, 14 or 28) in 50 ml of absolute trifluoroethanol is stirred at 75°C for 18 h, while bubbling dry hydrochloric acid, then it is cooled to 10°C and left at such a temperature overnight. By adding 20 ml of ethyl ether the crude compounds of the title are recovered from the reaction mixture as dark yellow powders which are purified by reverse-phase column chromatography as described in Examples 1-7. Examples 102-108 Procedure G: Catalytic hydrogenolysis Preparation of compounds 92-98 . The respective compounds 85-91 are treated by catalytic hydrogenolysis, as follows: 1 mmol of the proper derivative (see Table IIF) is dissolved in 200 ml of a mixture methanol:0.01N HCl 7:3 (v/v). The resulting solution is hydrogenated at room temperature and 1 atm over 1 g of 5% Pd/C. As soon as 90-110 ml of H₂ is absorbed, the catalyst is filtered off and the filtrate is adjusted at pH 7.5 with 1N NaOH. Most of the methanol is then evaporated at 40°C under reduced pressure and the resulting cloudy solution is loaded at the top of a column of 200 g of silanized Silica gel (0.06-0.2 mm; Merck). Chromatography is then carried out under the same conditions as above described, to yield the compounds of the title, as the free bases. Acid addition salts of the above compounds as well as of compounds of the invention in general are prepared by dissolving the proper derivative, as the free base, in a small volume (generally 5 ml per 1 mmol) of DMF containing a stoichiometric amount of the appropiate organic or mineral acid. Precipitation with ethyl ether yields the desired product.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE An amide of N¹⁵-alkyl or N¹⁵,N¹⁵-dialkyl teicoplanin compound having the following formula I wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 6, p is an integer from 1 to 6, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl; hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, amino(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino(C₂-C₄)alkyl; R¹⁰ represents H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, carboxy(C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxamido(C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylcarboxy(C₁-C₃)alkylamino, (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, a group or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from (C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxy, (C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl and carboxamido and An ⊖ is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl, or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl] -beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. A compound as in claim 1 wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 6, p is an integer from 1 to 6,. X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH, Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl; R¹⁰ represents H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of a methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂) aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is hydrogen. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is methyl. A compound as in claim 1 wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p (CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, OR⁷, SR⁷, or NR⁷R⁸; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 3, p is an integer from 1 to 3, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p is 1 or 2, and R⁵ is different from OH, Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy (C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of a methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is H or CN₃, R² represents a group as defined wherein R³ is H or CH₃, R⁴ is H or CH₃; R⁵ is H or OH; m is zero or 1, n ranges from 0 to 2, p is 1 or 2, R⁶ is H, OR⁷ or NR⁷R⁸ and R⁷ and R⁸ are independently H or CH₃ Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of a methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogeno(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. A process for preparing a compound of claim 1 which comprises reacting a compound of formula II wherein: Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl; hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, amino(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino(C₂-C₄)alkyl; R¹⁰ represents H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, carboxy(C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxamido(C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylcarboxy(C₁-C₃)-alkylamido, (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, a group or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from (C₁₋₃)alkyl, carboxy, (C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, and carboxamido and An ⊖ is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further hetero group selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl, A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl, with the proviso that B may represent hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen, a salt thereof, or a mixture thereof in any proportion, with a) an alkyl halide of formula R¹(halo) or R²(halo), wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 6, p is an integer from 1 to 6, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH and (halo) represents chloro or bromo, in the presence of a base and possibly of an organic solvent b) alternatively, a molar excess of a carbonyl compound of at least 20 times with respect to teicoplanin starting material, in an organic polar aprotic solvent with a reducing agent. A process as in claim 7 wherein the carbonyl compound has the same skeleton of substituent R² (or R¹) and whose oxo group is on the carbon atom which is to link the N¹⁵amino group of teicoplanin moiety. A process as in claim 7 wherein the reducing agent is an alkali metal borohydride. A compound as in claim 1 for use as a medicine. Use of a substance of claim 1 for the manufacture of a medicament for use as antibacterial. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Claims for the following Contracting States : GR, ES A process for preparing an amide of N¹⁵-alkyl or N¹⁵,N¹⁵-dialkyl teicoplanin compound having the following formula I wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 6, p is an integer from 1 to 6, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl; hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, amino(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylamino(C₂-C₄)alkyl; R¹⁰ represents H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, carboxy(C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxamido(C₁-C₃)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkylcarboxy(C₁-C₃)alkylamino, (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl(C₁-C₃)alkyl, a group or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of the methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from (C₁-C₃)alkyl, carboxy, (C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl and carboxamido and An ⊖ is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion, R¹¹ represents H or 3 (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl, or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl] -beta-D-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof, which comprises reacting a compound of formula II wherein: Y, A, B, and M are defined as above with: a) an alkyl halide of formula R¹(halo) or R²(halo), wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 6, p is an integer from 1 to 6, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH and (halo) represents chloro or bromo, in the presence of a base and possibly of an organic solvent b) alternatively, a molar excess of a carbonyl compound of at least 20 times with respect to teicoplanin starting material, in an organic polar aprotic solvent with a reducing agent, said carbonyl compound having the same carbon skeleton as the desired substituent R² (or R¹) and whose oxo group is on the carbon atom which is to link the N¹⁵ amino group of teicoplanin moiety. A process according to claim 1 for preparing a compound of formula I wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₆)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₆)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, COOR⁷, OR⁷, SR⁷, NR⁷R⁸ or halogen; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl; m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 6, p is an integer from 1 to 6, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p ranges between 1 and 3, and R⁵ is different from OH, Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl; R¹⁰ represents H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of a methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogen(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. A process according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is hydrogen. A process according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is methyl. A process according to claim 1 wherein: R¹ is H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl R² represents a group [CHR³(CR⁴R⁵) m X] p -(CH₂) n -R⁶ wherein: R³ and R⁴ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl; R⁵ represents H, a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or OH; R⁶ represents H, a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, OR⁷, SR⁷, or NR⁷R⁸; R⁷ and R⁸ independently represent H or a (C₁-C₃)alkyl, m is zero or 1, n is an integer from zero to 3, p is an integer from 1 to 3, X is O, NH or a bond with the proviso that when X is O or NH, then n is different from zero, p is 1 or 2, and R⁵ is different from OH, Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄) alkyl R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of a methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and the addition salts thereof. A process according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is H or CH₃, R² represents a group as defined wherein R³ is H or CH₃, R⁴ is H or CH₃; R⁵ is H or OH; m is zero or 1, n ranges from 0 to 2, p is 1 or 2, R⁶ is H, OR⁷ or NR⁷R⁸ and R⁷ and R⁸ are independently H or CH₃ Y represents a group wherein: R⁹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹⁰ represents H, (C₁-C₄)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl or a group in which q is an integer ranging from 2 to 8, and one of the hydrogen atoms of a methylene unit is optionally substituted with a substituent selected from carboxy, and (C₁-C₃)alkoxycarbonyl, R¹¹ represents H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl R¹² represents H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy(C₂-C₄)alkyl, halogeno(C₂-C₄)alkyl, (C₁-C₃)alkoxy(C₁-C₄)alkyl, phenyl(C₁-C₄)alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₄)alkyloxycarbonyl or R¹¹ and R¹² taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and NR¹³-wherein R¹³ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl or R⁹ and R¹⁰ taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear one to two (C₁-C₄)alkyl substituents on the ring carbons and may contain a further heterogroup selected from -O-, -S-, and -NR¹⁴-wherein R¹⁴ is H or a (C₁-C₄)alkyl A represents hydrogen or -N[(C₉-C₁₂)aliphatic acyl]-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, B represents hydrogen or N-acetyl-beta-D-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranosyl, M represents hydrogen or alpha-D-mannopyranosyl; with the proviso that B represents hydrogen only when A and M are simultaneously hydrogen and and the addition salts thereof. A process according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the reducing agent is an alkali metal borohydride. Use of a compound of any of claims 1 to 6 for the manufacture of a medicament for use as antibacterial.

Inventors: KETTENRING JUERGEN KURT, MALABARBA ADRIANO, TRANI ALDO, KETTENRING, JUERGEN KURT, MALABARBA, ADRIANO, TRANI, ALDO, Kettenring, Jürgen Kurt 
Applicants: LEPETIT SPA, GRUPPO LEPETIT S.P.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C07K9
IPC codes: C07K9, C07K1, C07K7, A61K38, C07K14, A61P17, C12P21, C12R1