Process for Preparing Antibiotic L 17392 (Deglucoteicoplanin)

Process for preparing antibiotic L, 17392 by catalytically hydrogenating a deglucoteicoplanin ester of formula Formula II wherein A, B and Z represent hydrogen atoms, R represents benzyl or substituted benzyl, wherein the phenyl group is substituted with at least a substituent selected from chloro, bromo, fluoro, nitro, (C1-C3)alkyl, (C1-C3)alkoxy and the like, with the exclusion of the tri-nitro phenyl group, or acid addition salts thereof, to catalytic hydrogenolysis in the presence of a poisoned hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature from 10 DEG C. to 40 DEG C. and a pressure between ambient pressure and 5 atm, in an inert organic solvent preferably in the presence of a mineral acid.