Synthesis and bioconversions of formestane

J Nat Prod. 2013 Oct 25;76(10):1966-9. doi: 10.1021/np400585t. Epub 2013 Sep 27.

Abstract

In an effort to generate new steroidal aromatase inhibitors, formestane (4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione) (1) was biotransformed by Rhizopus oryzae to yield the known 4β,5α-dihydroxyandrostane-3,17-dione as the major product (5) and bioconverted by Beauveria bassiana to afford the known reduced 4,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (6) and 3α,17β-dihydroxy-5β-androstan-4-one (7) and the new 4,11α,17β-trihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (8). All the metabolites showed more potent activities than their parent congener in the aromatase and MCF-7 breast cancer assays. The bioactivities and structural elucidation of these metabolites as well as the semisynthesis of formestane (1) from testosterone (2) are reported herein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androstenedione / analogs & derivatives*
  • Androstenedione / chemical synthesis
  • Androstenedione / chemistry
  • Androstenedione / metabolism
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Beauveria / metabolism*
  • Biotransformation
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Testosterone / chemical synthesis
  • Testosterone / chemistry
  • Testosterone / metabolism

Substances

  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Testosterone
  • Androstenedione
  • formestane