红霉素胺是通过还原红霉素肟制备的红霉素的半合成类似物。红霉素环胺是一种有效的抗生素，但是氨基部分的引入增加了该化合物的极性，并且对于体内使用是不利的。通过合成迪利霉素（一种在体内与红霉素胺解离的席夫碱前药）克服了这一局限性。 Erythromycylamine is a semi-synthetic analogue of erythromycin prepared by reduction of erythromycin oxime. Erythromycyclamine is a potent antibiotic, however the introduction of the amino- moiety increases the compound's polarity and is disadvantageous for in vivo use. This limitation was overcome by the synthesis of dirithromycin, a Schiff base pro-drug that dissociates in vivo to erythromycylamine.