Reversed- and normal-phase liquid chromatography in quantitative structure retention-property relationships of newly synthesized seco-androstene derivatives.

The rational preselection of drug candidates includes also correlation between physico-chemical properties (lipophilicity, as the key one) and pharmacokinetic properties, as well as pharmacodynamic activity. Lipophilicity can be determined alternatively by chromatographic methods. Chromatographic behavior of nineteen newly synthesized derivatives of 16-cyano-16,17-seco-5-androstene has been studied by reversed-phase and normal-phase thin-layer chromatography (RP- and NP-TLC). Commercial plates RP-C18-HPTLC and water-dioxane and water-acetonitrile, as well as Lux(®) silica gel plates and toluene-dioxane and toluene-acetonitrile mixtures with different volume fractions of the solvents were used. Retention constants RM(0) and C0 for each compound were determined and correlated with (i) theoretical log P values and (ii) pharmacokinetic predictors determined in silico. Significant linear relationship was found between RP TLC retention constants, RM(0), and computational logP values as well as between NP TLC retention constants, C0, and logP. Lipophilicity values for the analytes, determined by RP TLC and NP TLC, were also correlated with computer calculated absorption constants, affinity for plasma proteins, volume of distribution and logarithm of blood-brain permeation. Significant linear relationships were obtained. These relations were further improved by introducing other regressors, as molecular size descriptors (molecular mass and/or volume) and a molecular polarity descriptor (total polar surface area). Retention parameters, RM(0) and C0, are recommended for lipophilicity expression of analyzed compounds. In silico pharmacokinetic descriptors for the analytes can be expressed as function of the lipophilicity determined by chromatographic methods, the size and the polarity of the molecules expressed as molecular mass/volume and total polar surface area. The analyzed seco-androstene derivatives have adequate lipophilicity which should provide druglikeness and good pharmacokinetic profiles and they can be recommended for further studies in which their biological activity would be examined.

HPTLC chromatography of androstene derivates. Application of normal phase thin-layer chromatographic retention data in QSAR studies.

The chromatographic behavior of seven 16-oximino derivatives of 3beta-hydropxy-5-androstene have been investigated using the normal-phase (NP) HPTLC chromatographic mode of the type silica-non-polar diluent (benzene)-polar modifier (acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, or dioxane). The linear relationship between the retention constants (R(M)) and the logarithm of the organic modifier content in the mobile phase allowed for the calculation of R(M)0 values. The influence of substituent in the molecule on extrapolated retention data is discussed. To better understand the retention mechanism in the separation of androstene compounds, the functional group contributions (tauX) were compared with Hansch substituent constants (pi). An attempt to quantitate the lipophilicity of the investigated compounds using normal phase thin-layer chromatographic R(M)0 value was made. Also, the relative lipophilicity values determined previously by RPC as well as activity were compared with NPC data.

Synthesis and anti-aromatase activity of some new steroidal D-lactones.

Starting from D-seco derivatives of 5-androstene 1-3, the D-homo lactones, 4 and 5, were synthesized. By the Oppenauer oxidation and/or by dehydration of 4 and 5 with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) or 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranil), the corresponding D-lactones 6-12 were obtained. The structures of 6 and 10 were unambiguously proved by the appropriate X-ray structural analysis. Anti-aromatase assay showed that tested compounds possess inhibition potency, however, two to four times smaller (IC50 from 0.2 to 0.7 microM, respectively) in comparison to aminoglutethimide (AG).

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structures and biological activity of 16-amino-17-substituted-D-homo steroid derivatives.

D-Homo derivatives in the androstane and estrane series, 12-19, were synthesized by a fragmentation-cyclization reaction of 16-oximino-17-hydroxy-17-substituted derivatives 3-9, or by cyclization of the corresponding D-seco derivatives 20-26. The structures were confirmed by X-ray analysis of compounds 12 and 16. Preliminary assessment of inhibitory effects of D-homo derivatives from androstane series towards aromatase, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P450c17) and 17 beta-HSD indicated much lower inhibitory potential compared to previously tested activity of another type of D-modified steroids, namely D-seco derivatives. Also, assessment of potential antiestrogenic activity of derivatives from estrane series showed absence of such an activity.