The present invention provides novel macrolide compounds of the formulas 1 wherein: R is hydroxyl or methoxy; R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of
hydrogen, hydroxyl,
halide, NH.sub.2, OR.sup.9, 2 where R.sup.9 is C.sub.1-C.sub.10
alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkynyl,
aryl or heteroaryl and R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are each independently
hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.10
alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkynyl, or
aryl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of
hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.10
alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkynyl,
aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together form a cycloalkyl or a cycloaryl
moiety; R.sup.4 is hydrogen or methyl; R.sup.5 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, oxo, or together with R.sup.6 and the carbons to which they are attached form a cyclic
carbonate; R.sup.6 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, OR.sup.12 where R.sup.12 is C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkynyl, or together with R.sup.5 and the carbons to which they are attached form a cyclic
carbonate; R.sup.7 is methyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkynyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl, amidoalkylaryl, amidoalkenylaryl, or amidoalkynylaryl; R.sup.8 is C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkynyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl, amidoalkylaryl, amidoalkenylaryl, or amidoalkynylaryl; and, x is a single or a
double bond.