Circular dichroism, proton magnetic resonance and conformation of steroid 4-en-3-ones, 4, 9-dien-3-ones and 4, 9, 11-trien-3-ones

Circular dichroism of ketoprofen complexed to serum albumins: conformational selection by the protein: a novel optical purity determination technique

Complexation of 2-(3'-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid (ketoprofen), 1, to bovine serum albumin (BSA) results in an intense negative circular dichroism in the ketonic n-->pi* band of the benzoylphenyl moiety. This high CD contrasts with the weak CD of 1-enantiomers dissolved in common solvents. Furthermore, a number of chiral and achiral molecules containing the benzophenone moiety are easily complexed to BSA: all these complexes show an intense CD at the same transition. To account for the observed CD intensities of the above molecules, it appears that BSA complexation markedly shifts the equilibrium between strongly asymmetric, antipodic conformers. Dissymmetry of these conformers is connected to the instability of a structure with phenyl rings coplanar to the carbonyl chromophore, as also indicated by molecular mechanics calculations. The magnification of the Cotton effects of the 1-antipodes, due to the protein, can be used to measure the optical purity of 1-samples with excellent precision. In contrast with BSA, human SA is unable to recognize the chirality of 1-antipodes; oleic acid cocomplexation modifies this fact as well as other features of the binding.

New steroid haptens for radioimmunoassay: synthesis of steroids substituted with thioether or ester linkages at the 2 alpha-position

Haptens with bridge at the 2-position have not yet been explored. Radioimmunoassays with antibodies directed against 2 alpha-alkyl bridged steroid haptens are expected to be highly specific due to greater topographical exposure and similarity in conformation to the native steroid. The 2 alpha-alkyl bridged haptens were synthesized by first adding a cyclopropane ring to 2-methylene-4-en-3-one. Selective opening of the three-membered ring with trimethyl silyl iodide and transformation of the iodo group gave a carbocyclic acid, the desired analog for conjugation with protein.

Differences in the biotransformation of a 17 beta-hydroxylated steroid, trenbolone acetate, in rat and cow

1. The metabolism of trenbolone acetate, 17 beta-acetoxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one (TBA), an anabolic compound used as a growth promoter, was compared in rat and cow. 2. [6,7-3H] TBA was injected i.v. into rats and a heifer, and bile was collected for 24 h. In both species, the bile was the major route of excretion. TBA undergoes an extensive hydrolysis to 17 beta-hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one and the unchanged compound was not detected, but subsequent major metabolic pathways are different in the two species. 3. In the rat, oxidation of the 17 beta-hydroxyl to the 17-oxo group and hydroxylation in the 16 alpha-position are the major routes. The three major metabolites are 17 beta-hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one, 16 alpha, 17 beta-dihydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one and 16 alpha-hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3, 17-dione. 4. In the heifer, 17 alpha-epimerization is the major pathway and the main metabolite is the 17 alpha-hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one. 5. In both species, estra-4,9,11-trien-3,17-dione and the other metabolites, resulting either from hydroxylation in 1, 2, 6 beta, 16 alpha or 16 beta positions, or from aromatization of the A ring, were minor products. 6. Overall, 60% of the 3-oxotriene structures identified in the rat bile were 17 beta-hydroxylated and the remainder were 17-keto metabolites, whereas in the heifer bile 90% were 17 alpha-hydroxylated compounds. 7. Thus, in bovine species, the major pathway is similar to those of testosterone or 17 beta-estradiol which are mainly excreted as their 17 alpha-epimers. The epimerization strongly decreases the biological potency, as with the natural 17 beta-hormones, and leads to detoxication of tissue residues.