Endocrine properties of RMI 12,936, an antiprogestational steroid.

RMI 12,936 (17 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha-methyl-5-androstene-3-one) exhibited postcoital contragestative activity at 10 mg/kg in hamsters. The endocrinological profile was determined for this steroid. This antifertility agent had significant antiprogestational, antiuterotrophic and gonadotropin-inhibiting activity. RMI 12,936 also exhibited weak uterotrophic and androgenic properties when given to immature gonadectomized rats. Hormonal antagonism and weak estrogen agonist properties would appear to contribute to the contragestative activity of RMI 12,936 in hamsters.

Bis-basic-substituted polycyclic aromatic compounds. A new class of antiviral agents. 7. Bisalkamine esters of 9-oxoxanthene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid, 3,6-bis-basic ethers of xanthen-9-one, and 2,7-bis(aminoacyl)xanthen-9-ones-xanthenes, and -thioxanthenes.

3,6-Bis[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]-9H-xanthen-9-one dihydrochloride (4, RMI 10874DA) and 1,1'-(9H-xanthene 2,7-diyl)bis[2-(dimethylamino)ethanone] dihydrochloride (16, RMI 11513DA) were found to prolong survival of mice infected with lethal challenges of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. They were effective by oral as well as subcutaneous administration and showed broad-spectrum antiviral activity. They were selected for preclinical evaluation from the five series of compounds named in the title that were synthesized in analogy to tilorone and related fluorenone derivatives, described earlier. In addition to 4 and 16, compounds 11, 12, 17, and 18 showed high antiviral activity on oral as well as subcutaneous administration. High antiviral activity on subcutaneous admistration was found in the bisalkamine esters 1,2, and 14, the bis(aminoacyl)xanthenes 23 and 26, the bis(aminoalkylene)xanthene 31, the bis(aminoacyl)thioxanthenes 34-40, and the bis-basic ethers of 9-benzylide-nexanthenes 41 and 42. Structure-activity relationships showed a decrease of oral activity with increased length of side chains and increased molecular weight of dialkylamino substituents of 3,6-bis-basic ethers of xanthen-9-one and of 2,7-bis(aminoacyl)xanthenes and-xanthen-9-ones. At least one carbonyl or alkenyl function in conjugation to the xanthene nucleus either at the 9 position of the nucleus or in the side chains is required for high antiviral activity.

Antiprogestational agents. The synthesis of 7-alkyl steroidal ketones with anti-implantational and antidecidual activity.

A series of 7alpha- and 7beta- alkyl derivatives of steroidal 4-en- and 5-en-3-ones were prepared by 1,6-conjugate addition of organocopper reagents to various steroidal 4,6-dien-3-ones of the androstane, estrane and gonane series. Biological study of these and related compounds revealed that 17beta-hydroxy-7alpha-methyl-5-androsten-3-one (2), 17beta-hydroxy-7alpha-methyl-5-estren-3-one acetate and 17beta-hydroxy-7alpha-methyl-4-estren-3-one acetate had significant anti-implantational and antidecidual activities. The contragestative effects were associated with the latter anti-hormonal properties, and not with the androgenicity of these compounds.