Background Art Lincosamides are a small group of natural substances. Apart from by-products of cultivation, only three natural lincosamide compounds have been described so far. The basic structure of lincosamides is formed by an amino acid unit, a proline derivative, and a sugar moiety which is an unusual amino octose, interconnected by an amide bond. The general formula and substituents corresponding to the three natural lincosamide compounds are listed below. The structurally simplest natural lincosamide is Bu-2545 R ₂ =CH ₃ ; R ₃ =0-CH ₃ ). A biosynthetically more complex natural substance is lincomycin with a propyl side chain in the 4' position of the proline unit (R _! =C H ₇ ; R ₂ =CH ₃ ; R ₃ =OH). The third natural lincosamide substance, celesticetin, lacks the alkyl side chain of the amino acid unit (R _! =H), and compared to lincomycin, it contains two additional modifications to the aminosaccharide (sugar) unit: 0-methylation at position 7 (similar to Bu-2545) and a salicylate unit bound by the two- carbon linker to the sulphur atom (R ₂ =CH ₂ -CH ₂ -salicylate; R ₃ =0-CH ₃ ).

Bu-2545: R- _| =H, R ₂ =CH ₃ , R ₃ =OCH ₃ (R configuration)

Lincomycin: R =C ₃ H ₇ (R configuration), R ₂ =CH ₃ , R ₃ =OH (R configuration)

Celesticetin: , R ₃ =OCH ₃ (R configuration)

Natural lincosamides have antibacterial activity. However, only the most effective of them, lincomycin, is industrially manufactured and medically used directly as an antibiotic. Furthermore, its chlorination produces a semisynthetic derivative, clindamycin (R ₃ =C1, 5 configuration), the most efficient lincosamide substance produced. It is primarily used as an antibacterial agent, but, due to its antiprotozoal activity, it is also used as an antimalarial drug.

Many lincomycin derivatives chemically modified on both the amino acid and the sugar units, some more effective than lincomycin and even clindamycin, have been tested. Thus, in the basic structure of lincomycin, three positions have previously been identified, the modifications of which affect activity: In addition to position 7 of the sugar unit, the chlorination of which yields clindamycin, it is the position 4' of the proline unit where longer alkyl side chains than the propyl present in lincomycin, in particular 4-6 carbon long, significantly increase the antibacterial activity of the respective substances. In combination with chlorination at position 7, these compounds also show significant antiplasmodial effects. Antibacterial and antimalarial effects of clindamycin derivatives are further potentiated by the absence of the N-methyl group at position Γ. The most effective derivatives of lincomycin are Γ- demethyl-4'-depropyl-4'-pentyl-clindamycin and 1 '-demethyl-4'-depropyl-4'-hexylclindamycin. However, their preparation by chemical synthesis is too complex and their production would thus not be effective.

On the contrary, celesticetin appears to have a low antimicrobial activity, so its derivatives escaped the attention of researchers. Likewise, no hybrid compounds combining the aforementioned specific modifications of lincomycin (R^alkyl) and celesticetin (R2=CH ₂ -CH ₂ -salicylate) were prepared or tested. Logically it was considered unpractical to modify the more active lincomycin on the sulfur atom bound in the position 1 of the sugar unit by the substituent R ₂ specific for less effective celesticetin, including taking into account the considerable difficulty of preparing such a hybrid substance by chemical synthesis.

There is still a need to look for new lincosamide compounds that combine high antimicrobial activity with a simple and economically acceptable preparation.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention provides novel lincosamides combining at the same time substitution with an alkyl in the 4' position of the proline unit and ornamentation of the glycosidically bound sulfur atom by a two-carbon alkyl with an ester-linked benzoic acid or derivative thereof. No hybrid lincosamide compounds combining celesticetin-specific modifications (CH ₂ -CH ₂ -salicylate such as R ₂ ) and lincomycin (propyl side chain as Rj) have not yet been prepared or tested. Surprisingly and contrary to the present general knowledge, this combination of substitutions leads to an increase in antimicrobial activity. The production of hybrid substances modified simultaneously at positions 4' and 1 by chemical synthesis would be extremely demanding. The present invention provides an enzymatic pathway. Thus, an effective preparation of these compounds is disclosed, using enzymatically catalyzed processes based on new knowledge about the mechanism of enzyme functions involved in the natural celesticetin biosynthesis obtained by the inventors in the framework of the present invention.

wherein

Rl is selected from C2-C8 alkyls or C2-C8 alkenyls;

R3 is selected from OH, 0(C1-C4 alkyl), SH, S(C1-C4 alkyl) or halogen; preferably OH, 0(C1-C2 alkyl), SH, S(C1-C2 alkyl) or halogen;

R4 is H or C1-C3 alkyl; preferably H or C1-C2 alkyl;

each of R21, R22, R23, R24, R25 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, Cl- C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkenyl, C1-C4 alkynyl, halogen, 0(C1-C4 alkyl), 0(C1-C4 alkenyl), 0(C1-C4 alkynyl), NH ₂ , N(C1-C4 alkyl) ₂ , N(C1-C4 alkenyl) ₂ , N(C1-C4 alkynyl) ₂ ; preferably H, OH, C1-C2 alkyl, halogen, 0(C1-C2 alkyl), NH ₂ , N(C1-C2 alkyl) ₂ ;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Halogens are F, CI, Br, I. Most preferable halogen is CI.

Rl is a linear or branched C2-C8 alkyl or C2-C8 alkenyl. Preferably, Rl is a linear or branched C2-C8 alkyl. More preferably, Rl is a linear C2-C8 alkyl. Even more preferably, Rl is C3-C6 alkyl. Most preferably, Rl is selected from the group consisting of propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl. R3 is preferably OH, OCH ₃ ,OCH ₂ CH ₃ or CI.

R4 is preferably H or CH ₃ . Each of R21, R22, R23, R24, R25 is preferably independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, CH ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₃ , CI, Br, I, OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₃ , NH ₂ .

Preferably, R21 is selected from the group consisting of OH, CH ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₃ , CI, Br, I, OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₃ , NH ₂ , H.

Preferably, R22 is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, NH ₂ , CI.

Preferably, R23 is selected from the group consisting of OH, CH ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₃ , CI, Br, I, OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₃ , NH ₂ , H.

Preferably, R24 is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, NH ₂ , CI.

Preferably, R25 is selected from the group consisting of OH, CH ₃ , CH ₂ CH ₃ , CI, Br, I, OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₃ , NH ₂ , H.

Most preferably, R25 is OH and R21, R22, R23, R24 are H.

Further preferred combinations of substituents R21 to R25 are listed in the following table:

R21 R22 R23 R24 R25

H H H H NH ₂

H H H H CH ₃

H H H H CI

H H H H Br

H H H H I

H H H H OCH ₃

H H H H H

H H H OH H

H H H NH ₂ H

H H H CI H

H H OH H H

H H NH ₂ H H

H H CH ₃ H H

H H CI H H

OH H H H OH

H H OH H OH

H H NH ₂ H OH

H H NH ₂ H CI

H H CI H CI

H H OH OH H

H H CI CI H H OH H OH H

H CI H CI H

H OH H H OH

H OH OH OH H

H H CI OH H

H H OH CI H

H CI H OH H

Pharmaceutically acceptable acids suitable for forming the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts of the compounds of general formula I are in particular l-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid, 2,2- dichloroacetic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulphonic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, 4-acetamidobenzoic acid, 4- aminosalicylic acid, acetic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, aspartic acid, benzenesulphonic acid, benzoic acid, hydrochloric acid, camphoric acid, camphor- 10-sulphonic acid, decanoic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, carbonic acid, cinnamic acid, citric acid, cyclamic acid, dodecylsulphuric acid, ethane- 1,2-disulphonic acid, ethanesulphonic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, galactaric acid, gentisic acid, glucoheptanoic acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, glutamic acid, glutaric acid, glycerophosphoric acid, glycolic acid, hippuric acid, hydrobromic acid, isobutanoic acid, lactic acid, lactobionic acid, lauric acid, maleinic acid, malonic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulphonic acid, naphthalene- 1, 5 -disulphonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulphonic acid, nicotinic acid, nitric acid, oleic acid, oxalic acid, palmitic acid, pamoic acid, phosphoric acid, propanoic acid, pyroglutamic acid, salicylic acid, sebacic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, sulphuric acid, tartaric acid, thicyanic acid, toluenesulphonic acid, undecylenic acid (P. H. Stahl and C. G. Wermuth, editors, Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts: Properties, Selection and Use, Weinheim/Ziirich:Wiley-VCH/VHCA, 2002).

Preferably, the general formula I has the following configurations at chiral centers:

Chiral centers binding groups Rl and R3 may have both R and 5 configurations (all four possible combinations). More preferably, the chiral center binding group Rl has the configuration R. More preferably, the chiral center binding group R3 has the configuration R, when R3=OH, OCH ₃ , OCH ₂ CH ₃ , or the configuration 5, when R3=halogen. Particularly, the chiral center binding group R3 preferably has the configuration 5, when R3=chloro.

wherein Rl=propyl or butyl or pentyl or hexyl, R3=OH (configuration R) or OCH ₃ (configuration R) or CI (configuration 5), R4=H or CH ₃ .

The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of compounds of formula I which comprises the step of enzymatically catalysed activation of a R21-, R22-, R23-, R24-, R25-substituted benzoic acid derivative by coenzyme A attachment and a step of enzymatically catalyzed esterification

(II)

with a conjugate of coenzyme A and R21-, R22-, R23-, R24- and, R25-substituted benzoic acid derivative.

The substituents Rl , R3, R4 are as defined in formula (I). Compounds bearing R3=halogen are obtained from products of the enzymatically catalyzed reaction by known synthetic halogenation methods, e.g., compounds bearing R3=C1 can be obtained by chlorination methods used in clindamycin production. Compounds bearing Rl being longer than C ₃ H ₇ may be obtained analogically to a published (Ulanova D., et al. (2010) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 54(2), 927) and patented (WO2010127645) procedure for preparation of 4'-butyl-4'-depropyllincomycin a 4'-depropyl-4'-pentyllincomycin.

A protein containing the celesticetin biosynthetic protein Ccb2 whose amino acid sequence is disclosed in the GenBank database under accession No. ADB92576 or containing Ccb2-like protein having at least 95% identity with the amino acid sequence of Ccb2 (the 5% difference may generally include chain extension or truncation, or point amino acid mutation) may preferably be used as the enzyme for the enzymatically catalysed activation of a R21-, R22-, R23-, R24-, and R25-substituted benzoic acid derivative by coenzyme A attachment. In addition to the Ccb2 or Ccb2-like protein, the protein may further contain, for example, a tag or another sequence which is not essential for the enzymatic activity.

A protein containing the celesticetin biosynthetic protein Ccbl whose amino acid sequence is disclosed in the GenBank database under accession No. ADB92559 or containing Ccbl-like protein having at least 95% identity with the amino acid sequence of Ccbl (the 5% difference may generally include chain extension or truncation, or point amino acid mutation) may preferably be used as the enzyme for the esterification of the precursor of formula II. In addition to the Ccbl or Ccbl-like protein, the protein may further contain, for example, a tag or another sequence which is not essential for the enzymatic activity.

Thus, an effective preparation of the novel compounds of formula I is enabled by the use of enzyme- catalyzed processes based on new knowledge of the properties of the enzymes involved in the natural celesticetin biosynthesis, namely of a pair of enzymes which catalyze the attachment of the salicylate unit: Ccb2 which activates salicylate by the addition of coenzyme A and, in particular, Ccbl, an acyltransferase catalyzing the attachment (esterification) of the activated salicylate to the sugar unit of the antibiotic through the S-CH ₂ -CH ₂ -OH linker (corresponding to the esterification of the activated benzoic acid derivative and the precursor of formula II). These novel data about the enzymes Ccb2 and Ccbl have been obtained by the inventors in the framework of the present invention, and the broad substrate specificity of the enzymes to both substrates of the esterification reaction (activated benzoic acid derivatives and precursors of the formula II) is documented in the Examples section, and its use for the enzymatic preparation of lincosamides 1-120 of formula I is shown. Preferably, the reaction mixture comprises Ccb2, Ccbl, a benzoic acid derivative bearing R21 to R25, adenosine triphosphate, coenzyme A, MgCl ₂ , and a buffer having the pH within the range of 6 to 9 (preferably Tris buffer, pH 7.5). The reaction mixture is preincubated at a temperature in the range of 20 to 40 °C, preferably 24 to 34 °C, for 15 to 60 minutes, preferably 25 to 40 minutes, then the precursor of formula II is added and the mixture is incubated at a temperature in the same range for 1 to 3 hours. Lincosamides of formula I can be isolated from the mixture by protein precipitation (preferably by formic acid), centrifugation, supernatant extraction, and isolation from the extract by chromatographic separation. A reverse stationary phase (preferably CI 8 ligand) chromatography column and a gradient separation with a mobile phase having an acidic or neutral pH of the aqueous component (preferably a solution of formic acid in combination with an organic modifier, e.g., methanol or acetonitrile) is suitable.

The precursor of general formula II can be obtained by known procedures, e.g. by enzymatic transformation of the precursor of general formula III.

υ (III)

Preferably, proteins containing celesticetin biosynthetic proteins: CcbF, the amino acid sequence of which is published in the GenBank database under Accession No. ADB92565, or a CcbF-like protein having at least 95% identity with the CcbF amino acid sequence (the 5% difference may generally include chain extension or truncation, or point amino acid mutation); Ccb5, the amino acid sequence of which is published in the GenBank database under accession number ADB92579, or a Ccb5-like protein with at least 95% identity with the Ccb5 amino acid sequence (the 5% difference may generally include chain extension or truncation, or point amino acid mutation); and optionally Ccb4, the amino acid sequence of which is published in the GenBank database under accession number ADB92578, or a Ccb4-like protein with at least 95% identity with the Ccb4 amino acid sequence (the 5% difference may generally include chain extension or truncation, or point amino acid mutation). CcbF, Ccb5 and Ccb4 were described in Kamenik, Z., et al. (2016) Chem. ScL, 7(1), 430-435; Wang, M., et al. (2016) /. Am. Chem. Soc , 138(20), 6348-6351. Preferably, the reaction mixture contains CcbF, Ccb5, precursor of formula III and pyridoxal-5- phosphate, and a buffer having the pH within 6 to 9 (preferably Tris buffer, pH 7.5). When R3 should be OCH ₃ , then Ccb4 and S-adenosylmethionine are also present in the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is then incubated at a temperature in the range of 20 to 40 °C, preferably 24 to 34 °C, for 1 to 4 hours, preferably 90 to 150 minutes.

The substituents Rl, R3, R4 in formula III can be as defined for formula I. In one preferred embodiment, the enzymatically catalyzed activation of the R21-, R22-, R23-, R24-, and R25-substituted benzoic acid derivative by coenzyme A attachment, and the enzymatically catalyzed esterification of the precursor of formula II by the conjugate of the coenzyme A with benzoic acid derivative substituted by R21, R22, R23, R24 and R25, are performed biosynthetically using a microorganism bearing coding sequences of the celesticetin biosynthesis proteins Ccbl and/or Ccb2, or of biosynthetic proteins having 95% identity with the amino acid sequences of Ccbl and Ccb2.

Preferably, such microorganism is a microorganism of the class Actinobacteria, preferably of the genus Streptomyces.

Preferably, the microorganism bears the coding sequences of the celesticetin biosynthetic proteins Ccbl, Ccb2, Ccb5, CcbF, and when R3 is OCH ₃ , then also Ccb4, or of biosynthetic proteins having 95% identity with the amino acid sequences of Ccbl, Ccb2, Ccb5, CcbF, optionally also Ccb4, and the method starts from the precursor of formula III.

More preferably, the microorganism further bears also coding sequences of the proteins controlling the biosynthesis of the precursor of the formula III, i.e., the respective genes of the lincomycin and/or celesticetin biosynthetic cluster of genes. Biosynthetic gene clusters are described in the literature and their nucleotide sequences are published in the GenBank database, specifically for lincomycin (Koberska, M., et al. (2008) Folia Microbiol , 53(5), 395-401 ; GenBank EU124663) and for celesticetin (Janata, J., et al. (2015) PloS One, 10(3), eOl 18850; GenBank GQ844764). From the literature, the biosynthetic relevance of individual genes for the production of particular precursor III variants differing in Rl, R3 and R4 is known (further to the above -cited literature, also Kamenik, Z., et al. (2016) Chem. Sci., 7(1), 430-435; Jiraskova P., et al. (2016) Front. Microbiol, 7, 276; Najmanova, L., et al. (2013) ChemBioChem, 14(7), 2259). A process for the preparation of lincosamide compounds of formula I with an Rl alkyl longer than C ₃ H ₇ may be based on a precursor of formula III in which Rl is already an extended alkyl. Such a precursor may preferably be obtained by supplementing the culture medium of the microorganism producing precursor of formula III wherein R1=C ₃ H ₇ with a synthetically prepared 4-alkyl-L -proline wherein the length of this 4-alkyl corresponds to the alkyl length at the Rl position of the desired precursor of formula III. The preparation of synthetic 4-alkyl-L-prolines and their use for the preparation of derivatives of lincomycin with Rl longer than C ₃ H ₇ is described in the literature (Ulanova D., et al. (2010) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 54(2), 927); patent WO2010127645). All compounds obtained by the above processes may be further modified, if needed, by synthetic procedures well known to those skilled in the art, for example, by chlorination at C-7 of the sugar moiety (to form R3=C1).

The present invention further relates to genetically modified production microorganisms of the class Actinobacteria, preferably of the genus Streptomyces, carrying the coding sequences of the celesticetin biosynthetic proteins Ccbl and/or Ccb2, or biosynthetic proteins having at least 95% identity of the amino acid sequence with Ccbl or Ccb2, respectively, and preferably also carrying the coding sequences of the proteins controlling biosynthesis of the precursor of the formula II, i.e. the respective genes of the lincomycin and/or celesticetin biosynthetic cluster of genes. Biosynthetic gene clusters are described in the literature and their nucleotide sequences are published in the GenBank database, specifically for lincomycin (Koberska, M., et al. (2008) Folia Microbiol , 53(5), 395-401 ; GenBank EU124663); and for celesticetin (Janata, J., et al. (2015) PloS One, 10(3), eOl 18850; GenBank GQ844764). From the literature, the biosynthetic relevance of the individual genes to the production of particular precursor II variants differing in Rl , R3 and R4 is known (further to the above -cited literature, also Kamenik, Z., et al. (2016) Chem. 5c/., 7(1), 430-435; Jiraskova P., et al. (2016) Front. Microbiol., 7, 276; Najmanova, L., et al. (2013) ChemBioChem, 14 (7), 2259).

The present invention further relates to genetically modified production microorganisms of the class Actinobacteria, preferably of the genus Streptomyces, carrying the coding sequences of the celesticetin biosynthetic proteins Ccbl, Ccb2, Ccb5, CcbF, and when the produced lincosamides should have R3=OCH ₃ , then also of Ccb4, or of biosynthetic proteins having at least 95% identity of the amino acid sequence with Ccbl , Ccb2, Ccb5, CcbF, optionally also Ccb4, and preferably also carrying the coding sequences of the proteins controlling biosynthesis of the precursor of the formula III, i.e. the respective genes of the lincomycin and/or celesticetin biosynthetic cluster of genes. Biosynthetic gene clusters are described in the literature and their nucleotide sequences are published in the GenBank database, specifically for lincomycin (Koberska, M., et al. (2008) Folia Microbiol , 53(5), 395-401 ; GenBank EU124663); and for celesticetin (Janata, J., et al. (2015) PloS One, 10(3), eOl 18850; GenBank GQ844764). From the literature, the biosynthetic relevance of the individual genes to the production of particular precursor III variants differing in Rl, R3 and R4 is known (further to the above -cited literature, also Kamenik, Z., et al. (2016) Chem. 5c/., 7(1), 430-435; Jiraskova P., et al. (2016) Front. Microbiol, 7, 276; Najmanova, L., et al. (2013) ChemBioChem, 14 (7), 2259).

In the case of proteins having at least 95% identity with celesticetin biosynthesis proteins, it is understood that the mutations are such that their enzymatic activity is maintained, i.e. they have at least 50% of the enzymatic activity of the respective celesticetin biosynthetic protein. This can be verified by methods known to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the present invention provides compounds of formula I for use as pharmaceuticals, especially as antimicrobial drugs. The term„antimicrobial drugs" refers to drugs having effects on unicellular microorganisms such as bacteria and unicellular eukaryotic parasitic microorganisms, in particular on Gram-positive bacteria and parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa comprising target organelles, apicoplasts, especially Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Babesia, Theileria and Coccidia.

For therapeutic use, the formulations may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions which contain mixtures of active compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof with auxiliaries. The auxiliaries include, in particular, solvents such as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerol, macrogols, oils, isopropyl myristate, benzyl alcohol, ethyl oleate, liquid paraffin, decyl oleate, isopropyl palmitate; ointment and cream bases such as paraffin, petroleum jelly, silicones, fats, waxes, higher aliphatic alcohols and acids, cellulose, cellulose ethers and esters, starch, tragacanth, sodium alginate, talc, zinc, magnesium, titanium oxides, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, colloidal silicon dioxide, aluminum, magnesium, zinc stearates, lactose; fillers such as lactose, native or modified starches, microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, sucrose; binders such as starch, gelatin, cellulose and derivatives thereof, e.g., methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, gum arabic, tragacanth, sucrose, glucose, alginic acid and alginates, guar gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone; lubricants such as talc, corn starch, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide. Additionally, the auxiliaries may include stabilizers, disintegrants, antioxidants and preservatives. Pharmaceutical compositions may be in particular in the form of tablets, capsules, suppositories, ointments, creams, milk, solutions, or suspensions. The pharmaceutical compositions may further contain, in addition to the active compounds of the formula I, other active substances, in particular antibiotics and antimalarials. Examples of carrying out the invention

Example 1: Preparation of a precursor of formula III wherein Rl is C3 alkyl, R3 is OH, R4 is H or CH ₃

Cultivation of streptomycetes in liquid medium

The culture of the bacterial strain Streptomyces lincolnensis AlmblH (construction of this strain of 5. lincolnensis ATCC 25466 was previously described - Janata, J., et al. (2008) PLoS One, 2015, 10, eOl 18850) was prepared by inoculating spores from a culture dish with MS agar to 50 mL of YEME (Kieser, T., et al (2000) Practical Streptomyces Genetics, Norwich, UK, p. 613) medium without sucrose and incubated in 500 mL flat bottom flasks at 28 °C for 120 h. The culture medium was then separated by centrifugation (4000 x g, 20 °C, 15 min) and the supernatant was used to isolate the lincosamide precursors of formula III in a preferred combination of substituents (Rl is C3 alkyl, R3 is OH, R4 is H or CH ₃ ).

Isolation of lincosamide precursors of formula III

Culture medium supernatant was purified using Oasis HLB 6cc extraction columns (Waters, USA): The supernatant (50 mL) was loaded onto a column preconditioned and equilibrated by methanol (5 mL) and water (5 mL) and a portion of the sample matrix was washed with water (5 mL). Fractions containing lincosamide precursors were eluted with methanol (15 mL), evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in 200 μΐ of methanol. The obtained extract was reconstituted in 2 mL of methanol and dispensed into a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC, Waters, USA) equipped with a gradient pump 600, an autosampler 717 and UV detector 2487 at 194 nm. Data was processed using Empower 2 software (Waters, USA). Lincosamide precursors were separated on a Luna C18 chromatographic column (250 x 15 mm, particle size 5 μπι, Phenomenex, USA) using a two-phase mobile phase, A and B, wherein 0.1% aqueous formic acid (v/v) is used as phase A and methanol as phase B. Chromatographic analyzes using a linear gradient program at a flow rate of 3 mL min ¹ (min/% B): 0/5, 31/27.5 with subsequent column washing (100% B, 9 min) and equilibration before further analysis (5% B, 9 min). Fractions containing lincosamide precursors were evaporated to dryness, reconstituted in methanol and subjected to further HPLC separation on an XTerra Prep RP18 chromatographic column (150 x 7.8 mm, particle size 5.0 μπι, Waters, USA) using an isocratic elution program at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min ¹ with 1 mM ammonium formate (pH 9.0): acetonitrile (90: 10 v/v) as the mobile phase. Lincosamide precursors isolated in this way were further used for in vitro enzymatic reactions. Example 2: Preparation of a precursor of formula II wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ , R4=H or CH ₃

Heterologous production and purification of CcbF, Ccbl, Ccb2, Ccb4 and Ccb5

The CcbF (GenBank ADB92565), Ccbl (GenBank ADB92559), Ccb2 (GenBank ADB92576), Ccb4 (GenBank ADB92578) and Ccb5 (GenBank ADB92579) proteins for the production of new lincosamide compounds were produced heterologously in E. coli cells. The ccbF, ccbl, ccb2, ccb4 and ccb5 genes were PCR amplified using the primers of Table 1 from the genomic DNA of the celesticetin producing strain Streptomyces caelestis ATCC 15084. The PCR products were treated with the restriction enzymes (according to Table 1) and inserted into the pET28b (Novagen) vectors for ccbl, ccb4 or ccb5, or pET42b (Novagen) for ccbF or ccb2. The Ccbl, Ccb4 and Ccb5 proteins were thus produced with a N-terminal histidine tag, and the CcbF and Ccb2 proteins were produced with the C-terminal histidine tag. E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain carrying the GroES and GroEL chaperonins expression construct was used to produce the proteins. For all recombinant proteins, overproduction was induced by isopropyl β-D-l-thiogalactopyranoside (0.4 mM) at a culture OD (600 nm) of 0.6-0.8. After induction, the culture was incubated at 17 °C at 200 rpm for 20 h. The culture was then centrifuged (4000 x g, 20 min, 4 °C) and the sediment was used to prepare the crude extract by ultrasonic homogenization in buffer I (20 mM TRIS pH 8, 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, and 20 mM imidazole). The homogenate was then centrifuged at 9000 x g, 25 min, 4 °C. The proteins were purified from the crude extract using a lmL HiTrap™ Ni ²⁺ column according to the manufacturer's protocol (GE Healthcare). The protein Ccb2 was eluted with buffer II (20 mM TRIS pH 8, 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, and 100 mM imidazole), Ccb4 and Ccb5 proteins were eluted with buffer III (20 mM TRIS pH 8, 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, and 200 mM imidazole) and the CcbF and Ccbl proteins were eluted with buffer IV (20 mM TRIS pH 8, 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, and 250 mM imidazole). Imidazole was removed from the purified protein solution using Amicon centrifuge tubes (Millipore) and buffer V (20 mM TRIS pH 8, 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol). All of the proteins thus prepared were stable without loss of activity at 4 °C for at least one week; the CcbF, Ccbl, Ccb2, and Ccb5 proteins were also stable for at least one month at -80 °C. Table 1. Primers used for amplification of the 5. caelestis genes. Restriction sites for the insertion into the vector are underlined and following restriction enzymes were used for DNA processing: Ndel for CATATG sequence, Xhol for CTCGAG, EcoRI for GAATTC and Nhel for GCTAGC:

Gene Primer I Primer II

ccbF CCGCATATGTCCGACTTAGCTGCCG CCGCTCGAGGCGGGGCTGCCAGGCG ccbl CTGCATATGCATCTTGATCCAACCAC ATAGAATTCTCATCGGTGGTCGTCGC ccb2 AACCCCATATGAAGCGACGTGGCATGG AACCCCTCGAGTAAGGTCATGAACTCCGCACG ccb4 CTACATATGAAGACGCCCGGTACATC CTAGAATTCTCAGCACGGAGTGGCCT ccb5 ATAGCTAGCGCGACCGTCCCCGCC CTGGAATTCTCATGAGTCCGCGCGCC

In vitro enzymatic preparation of lincosamide precursors of formula II

Reaction mixture 1 contained: 20 μΜ CcbF, 20 μΜ Ccb5, 200 μΜ lincosamide precursor of formula III wherein Rl is C3 alkyl, R3 is OH, R4 is H or CH ₃ , 200 μΜ pyridoxal-5 -phosphate, 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. In the case of the preparation of precursors of formula II wherein R3=OCH ₃ , the reaction mixture additionally contained 20 μΜ Ccb4 and 4 mM S-adenosylmethionine. Reaction mixture 1 was incubated at 30 °C for 2h.

Example 3: In vitro enzymatic preparation of new lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21 -R24 are H and R25 is OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl, 2 mM salicylic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Then, reaction mixture 2 was mixed in a ratio of 1 :1 with reaction mixture 1 (preparation according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II, and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours.

Isolation of new lincosamide compounds of formula I from the enzymatic reaction mixture

Proteins were precipitated from the reaction mixture with 98% formic acid (30 μL· per 1 mL sample) and the mixture was centrifuged (13500 rpm, 5 min). The supernatant was extracted with Oasis HLB 6cc columns according to the protocol described above in the section of Isolation of lincosamide precursors. The extract was further subjected to HPLC separation as defined in the above paragraph Isolation of lincosamide precursors. New lincosamide compounds were separated on a Luna C18 chromatographic column (250 x 15 mm, particle size 5 μπι, Phenomenex, USA) using a two-phase mobile phase, A and B, wherein 0.1% aqueous formic acid (v/v) was used as the phase A and acetonitrile was used as the phase B. Chromatographic analyses were performed using a linear gradient program at a flow rate of 3 mL min ¹ (min/% B): 0/30, 40/65, followed by column washing (100% B, 9 min) and equilibration before further analysis (30% B , 9 min). Antibacterial activity tests

Filtration paper discs (geometric diameter 5 mm) saturated with 5 nmol of tested novel lincosamide compounds were placed on LB agar plates (tryptone 10 g, yeast extract 5 g, NaCl 10 g, supplemented with distilled water to 1000 mL, pH 7.5; agar 15 g) continuously covered with culture of the lincomycin sensitive test strain Kocuria rhizophila. The plates were incubated at 37 °C for 20 h. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using the previously published method (European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), Clin Microbiol Infect (2003), 9 (8), ix-xv). 5 μΕ suspension (McFarland scale 0.5) of K. rhizophila bacterial culture was inoculated into 1 mL of LB medium containing test substances of the desired concentration (a concentration range of 25-1600 nM was tested). The cultures were incubated for 24 h at 37 °C.

Table 2: Results of biological activity testing

Analysis by liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy detection (LC-MS analysis)

In total four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 1-4 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 3.

Table 3. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 1-4

Lincosamide Retention time Pseudomolecular Major detected Fragmentation in

(min) ion - theoretical ion in MS source - major value m/z for z=l spectrum (m/z) detected ions

(m z) 1 7.10 571.2690 571.2703 373.23; 126.13

2 6.25 557.2533 557.2543 359.22; 126.13

3 7.00 557.2533 557.2532 359.22; 112.11

4 6.30 543.2376 543.2358 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed on an Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph Acquity UPLC coupled to an LCT premier XE mass spectrometer and a time-of -flight analyzer (Waters, USA). A sample of 5 μΐ was injected on an Acquity UPLC BEH CI 8 chromatographic column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, particle size 1.7 μπι, Waters, USA) which was kept at 40 °C. The sample was eluted from the column with two-phase mobile phase, aqueous solution of 0.1 % formic acid (v/v) was used as the component A, and acetonitrile was used as the component B. The following linear gradient program (min/% B) 0/5, 1.5/5, 12.5/58 was used for separation at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min ^"1 . The analysis included column washing (1.5 min, 100% B) and equilibration before further analysis (1.5 min, 5% B). The mass spectrometer was set to W mode with the following parameters: capillary voltage, +2800 V; cone voltage, + 40 V; flow rate of desolvation gas (nitrogen), 800 Lh ¹ ; desolvation gas temperature, 350 °C; ion block temperature, 120 °C; cone gas flow rate, 50 Lh ^"1 ; scan time, 0.15 sec; delay between scans, 0.01 s. The mass accuracy below 5 ppm was maintained with the reference compound leucine-enkephaline (2 ng uL ^"1 , 5 μL· min ¹ ). Source fragmentation (collision initiated dissociation - CID) was induced by increasing aperture I to +50 V. Data were processed using MassLynx V4.1 software (Waters, USA).

Example 4: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamides of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R25 are H

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM benzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (preparation according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. Novel lincosamide with incorporated benzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

Results of LC-MS analysis

In total four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 5-8 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 4.

Table 4. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 5-8

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 5: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21 -R24 are H, R25 is NH ₂ Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM anthranilic (2-aminobenzoic) acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated anthranilic (2-aminobenzoic) acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis In total four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 9-12 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 5.

Table 5. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 9-12

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 6: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OCH ₃ or OH (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R24 are H, R25 is

CH ₃

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2-methylbenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2- methylbenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3. LC-MS analysis

In total four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 13-16 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 6.

Table 6. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 13-15

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 7: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21 -R24 are H, R25 is CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2-chlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (preparation according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2- chlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 17-20 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 7.

Table 7. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 17-20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 8: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21 -R24 are H, R25 is Br

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2-bromobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2- bromobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3. LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 21-24 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 8.

Table 8. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 21-24

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 9: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21 -R24 are H, R25 is I Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2-iodobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2-iodobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 25-28 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 9.

Table 9. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 25-28

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 10: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21 -R24 are H, R25 is OCH ₃ Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2-methoxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2- methoxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 29-32 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 10.

Table 10. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 29-32

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3. Example 11: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R23, R25 are H, R24 is OH Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3- hydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 33-36 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 11.

Table 11. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 33-36

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in source - time - theoretical value in MS spectrum major detected ions (m/z)

(min) m/z for z=l (m z)

33 5.85 571.2690 571.2688 373.24; 126.13

34 5.09 557.2533 557.2531 359.22; 126.13

35 5.92 557.2533 557.2538 359.22

36 5.07 543.2376 543.2355 345.20 LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 12: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R23, R25 are H, R24 is NH ₂

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 3-aminobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3- aminobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 37-40 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 12.

Table 12. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 37-40

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

37 5.35 570.2850 570.2839 373.24; 126.13 38 4.08 556.2393 556.2684 359.20; 126.12

39 5.35 556.2393 556.2696 359.22; 112.11

40 4.13 542.2536 542.2541 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 13: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R23, R25 are H, R24 is CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl, 2 mM 3-chlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1: 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3- chlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 41-44 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 13.

Table 13. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 41-44

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

41 7.20 589.2351 589.2365 373.24; 126.13

42 6.77 575.2194 575.2185 359.22; 126.13

43 7.53 575.2194 575.2209 359.21

44 6.55 561.2037 561.2030 345.21

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 14: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24, R25 are H, R23 is OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 4- hydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 45-48 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 14.

Table 14. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 45-48

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

45 5.76 571.2690 571.2706 373.23; 126.13

46 4.91 557.2533 557.2551 359.22; 126.13

47 5.74 557.2533 557.2540 359.21 ; 112.11

48 4.97 543.2376 543.2467 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 15: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24, R25 are H, R23 is NH ₂

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 4-aminobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 4- aminobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 49-52 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 15.

Table 15. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 49-52

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m/z) ions (m/z) 49 6.81 570.2850 570.2847 373.23; 126.13

50 5.50 556.2393 556.2692 359.22; 126.13

51 5.77 556.2393 556.2664 359.21 ; 112.11

52 3.72 542.2536 542.2545 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 16: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24, R25 are H, R23 is CH ₃

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 4-methylbenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 4- methylbenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 53-56 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 16.

Table 16. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 53-56

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

53 8.80 569.2897 569.2879 373.24; 126.13 54 8.08 555.2740 555.2748 359.22; 126.13

55 6.83 555.2740 555.2725 359.22

56 5.67 541.2583 541.2572 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 17: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24, R25 are H, R23 is CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 4-chlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 4- chlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 57-60 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 17.

Table 17. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 57-60

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

57 7.52 589.2351 589.2364 373.23; 126.13

58 7.60 575.2194 575.2183 359.22 59 7.54 575.2194 575.2197 359.22; 112.11

60 6.02 561.2037 561.2037 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 18: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R25 are OH, R22-R24 are H

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2,6- dihydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3. LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 61-64 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 18.

Table 18. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 61-64

Lincosamide Retention time Pseudomolecular Major detected Fragmentation in

(min) ion - theoretical ion in MS source - major value m/z for z=l spectrum (m/z) detected ions (m z)

61 7.27 587.2639 587.2656 373.24; 126.13

62 5.90 573.2482 573.2484 359.22; 126.13

63 7.03 573.2482 573.2490 359.22

64 4.99 559.2325 559.2310 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 19: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24 are H, R23, R25 are OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2,4- dihydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3. LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 65-68 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 19.

Table 19. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 65-68

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

65 7.38 587.2639 587.2648 373.24; 126.13

66 6.05 573.2482 573.2483 359.22; 126.13

67 6.35 573.2482 573.2487 359.21

68 5.11 559.2325 559.2294 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 20: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24 are H, R23 is NH ₂ , R25 is OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 4-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 4-amino-2-hydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 69-72 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 20.

Table 20. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 69-72

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

69 5.82 586.2799 586.2789 373.24; 126.13

70 4.97 572.2642 572.2646 359.22; 126.13

71 5.95 572.2642 572.2663 112.11

72 4.85 558.2485 558.2480 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 21: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24 are H, R23 is NH ₂ , R25 is CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 4-amino-2-chlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 4-amino-2- chlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 73-76 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 21.

Table 21. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 73-76

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

73 7.05 604.2460 604.2453 373.24; 126.13

74 5.83 590.2303 590.2281 359.22; 126.13

75 5.38 590.2303 590.2286 359.22

76 4.38 576.2146 576.2155 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 22: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R24 are H, R23, R25 are CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2,4- dichlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 77-80 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 22.

Table 22. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 77-80

Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m/z) ions (m/z) 77 9.78 623.1961 623.1944 373.24; 126.13

78 8.51 609.1804 609.1783 359.22; 126.13

79 8.37 609.1804 609.1724 359.22

80 6.48 595.1647 595.1632 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 23: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R25 are H, R23, R24 are OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl, 2 mM 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1: 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3,4- dihydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3. LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 81-84 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 23.

Table 23. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 81-84 Lincosamide Retention Pseudomolecular ion Major detected ion Fragmentation in time (min) - theoretical value in MS spectrum source - major detected

m/z for z=l (m z) ions (m/z)

81 6.20 587.2639 587.2625 373.24; 126.13

82 5.00 573.2482 573.2493 359.22; 126.13

83 4.71 573.2482 573.2455 359.21

84 3.86 559.2325 559.2330 345.20

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 24: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R22, R25 are H, R23, R24 are CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 3,4-dichlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3,4- dichlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 85-88 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 24.

Table 24. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 85-88

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 25: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21, R23, R25 are H, R22, R24 are OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 89-92 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 25.

Table 25. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 89-92

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3. Example 26: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ ; R21, R23, R25 are H; R22, R24 are CI

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 3,5-dichlorobenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3,5- dichlorobenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 93-96 with the following structures and LC-MS parameters listed in Table 26.

Table 26. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 93-96

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 27: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ ; R22, R23, R25 are H; R21, R24 are OH Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 2,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3.

LC-MS analysis In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 97-100 with the following structures and LC-

MS parameters listed in Table 27.

Table 27. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 97-100

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 28: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl, R3=OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ ; R21, R25 are H; R22- R24 are OH

Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed with reaction mixture 1 (prepared according to Example 2) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II in a ratio of 1 : 1 and incubated at 30 °C for further 2 hours. The novel lincosamide with incorporated 3,4,5- trihydroxybenzoic acid was isolated from the reaction mixture according to the procedure of Example 3. LC-MS analysis

In total, four lincosamides were prepared: compounds 101-104 with the following structures and LC- MS parameters listed in Table 28.

Table 28. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 101-104

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3.

Example 29: Preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C3 alkyl,

R3=C1 (5 configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ ; R21-R24 are H; R25 is OH

Preparation of novel lincosamides wherein R3=C1 starts from the lincosamides prepared in Example 3, wherein R3=OH (R configuration). These are synthetically chlorinated by the following procedure. To a suspension of N-(chloromethylene)-N-methylmethaniminium chloride (11 mrnol) in dichloromethane (3.5 mL) vigorously stirred under an inert atmosphere (Ar) with cooling with an external bath containing water and ice was added portion wise over 15 min lincosamide (2 mmol) and 3-teri-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl sulfide (9 mg) to give the addition product. The cooling was stopped, the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h at room temperature and then heated at 60 °C for 6 h, then for a further 4 h at 68 °C. Subsequently, the reaction mixture was cooled to 0 °C and slowly added dropwise to a solution of NaOH (0.66 g) in a mixture of water and ice (6 g) cooled with an external acetone/dry ice (-78 °C) external bath so that the reaction mixture temperature did not exceed 21 °C. During the addition of the reaction mixture, the pH was maintained at about 6 by the addition of a further portion of aqueous NaOH. The pH of the mixture was then raised to 10.5 and stirred for 2 h, then adjusted to pH=7 and stirred overnight. The mixture was then cooled to 0 °C with ice and water, the pH was reduced to 1.5 with HC1 and extracted with CH ₂ C1 ₂ (5x5 mL). Each of the organic phases was washed with 7.5 ml of a dilute HC1 solution (pH 1.5). The aqueous phases were combined, alkalized with dilute NaOH to pH=10.5 and extracted with CH ₂ C1 ₂ (5 x 5 mL). Each organic phase was washed with 2x7.5 ml phosphate buffer (0.5 M, pH=6.2). The organic phases were combined, dried with anhydrous Na ₂ S0 ₄ , filtered and concentrated. The resulting oil was dissolved in ethyl acetate (20 mL), evaporated on a vacuum evaporator and this operation was repeated once more. The oil was dissolved in ethyl acetate and subjected to decolorization with charcoal (50 mg) for 30 min. Subsequently, it was filtered through Celite and concentrated to an oil. Subsequently dissolved in ethyl acetate (8 mL) and absolute ethanol (2 mL) and at vigorous stirring, concentrated HC1 was added to a final pH of 0.5. The resulting slurry was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature, then for 30 min at 0 °C. The crystals were filtered off, washed with ethyl acetate (1 mL) and dried overnight at 80 °C under vacuum. Thus ethanol solvate of lincosamide hydrochloride of formula I was obtained wherein R3=C1 (5 configuration) in a total yield of about 80 %.

Preparation of hydrochloride hydrate: The ethanol solvate prepared by the above process is dissolved in water, evaporated to syrup, dissolved in hot acetone, then slowly cooled to room temperature for 4 hours. Subsequent cooling of the acetone solution to 0 °C causes precipitation of the lincosamide hydrochloride hydrate crystals. These are filtered off after 30 min at 0 °C and air-dried. The yield is about 90%.

Example 30: Preparation of a precursor of formula III wherein Rl is C4-C6 alkyl, R3 is OH (R configuration), R4 is H or CH ₃ The preparation is analogous to the procedure for the preparation of the precursors of formula III wherein R1=C3 alkyl as described in Example 1 except that the bacterial culture incubated in YEME medium is supplemented with 50 μΐ 200 mM 4-butyl-L -proline (for R1=C4 alkyl) or 4-pentyl-L- proline (for R1=C5 alkyl) or 4-hexyl-L-proline (for R1=C6 alkyl). Isolation of the precursor of formula III is then carried out analogously to the procedure described in Example 1.

LC-MS analysis

Two precursors, 107, 108 having the following structures and the LC-MS parameters listed in Table

Table 29. Results of LC-MS analysis of the compounds 107, 108

LC-MS analyses were performed according to the procedure described in Example 3. Example 31: Preparation of the precursor of formula II, wherein Rl is C4-C6 alkyl, R3 is OH or OCH ₃ (R configuration), R4 is H or CH ₃

Reaction mixture 1 contained: 20 μΜ CcbF, 20 μΜ Ccb5, 200 μΜ lincosamide precursor of formula III wherein Rl is C4-C6 alkyl, R3 is OH, R4 is H or CH ₃ and R5 is H - its preparation is described in Example 30, 200 μΜ pyridoxal-5-phosphate, 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. In the case of preparing new lincosamide compounds according to formula II, wherein R3=OCH ₃ , the reaction mixture additionally contained 20 μΜ Ccb4 and 4 mM S-adenosylmethionine. Reaction mixture 1 was incubated at 30 °C for 2h. Preparation of heterologous proteins is described in Example 2.

Example 32: In vitro enzymatic preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C4-C6 alkyl, R3=OCH ₃ or OH (R configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R24 are H and R25 is OH Reaction mixture 2 contained: 2 μΜ Ccb2, 2 μΜ Ccbl , 2 mM salicylic acid, 4.5 mM adenosine triphosphate, 2 mM coenzyme A, 2 mM MgCl ₂ , 100 mM Tris pH 7.5. Reaction mixture 2 was incubated at 30 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, reaction mixture 2 was mixed in the ratio 1 : 1 with reaction mixture 1 (preparation according to example 32) containing the lincosamide precursor of formula II and incubated at 30 °C for further 2h. Lincosamide isolation was performed as described in Example 3.

Example 33: Preparation of novel lincosamide compounds of formula I wherein R1=C4-C6 alkyl, R3=C1 (5 configuration), R4=H or CH ₃ , R21-R24 are H and R25 is OH

Preparation of novel lincosamides wherein R1=C4-C6 alkyl and R3=C1 starts from the lincosamides prepared in Example 32, wherein R3=OH (R configuration). They are synthetically chlorinated by the same chlorination procedure as described in Example 29. 