Synthesis and biological activity of 21,22-cyclosteroids and their derivatives

Synthesis of 21,22-cyclosteroids has been achieved starting from pregnenolone acetate. The key transformation was the Kulinkovich reaction of 17-vinyl steroids with esters. The resulting cyclopropanols were further subjected to three-membered ring-opening under various conditions including to base-, palladium or visible light-promoted isomerization and cross-coupling reaction. A number of steroidal Δ2-6-ketones and 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-enes with functional groups at C-21 - C-23 have been synthesized via the 21,22-cyclosteroids. The antiproliferative and antihormonal activity of the obtained compounds on the cell lines of prostate (22Rv1) and breast (MCF-7) cancer was studied. The androgen receptor activity was assessed by reporter assay when the expression of signalling proteins was evaluated by immunoblotting. (20S,22R)-22-Acetoxy-21,22-cyclo-5α-cholest-5-ene with the moderate antiandrogenic potency revealed IC50 values of 18.4 ± 1.2 and 14.6 ± 1.4 µM against MCF-7 and 22Rv1 cells, respectively, and its effects on the expression of AR-V7, cyclin D1 and BCL2 were explored.

Photocatalytic Stoichiometric Oxidant-Free Synthesis of Linear Unsaturated Ketones from 1,2-Disubstituted Cyclopropanols

A one-step catalytic oxidant-free synthesis of unsaturated ketones from 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropanols is reported. Previously for this transformation, only two- and three-step protocols have been developed. The reaction proceeds under irradiation with visible light in the presence of catalytic amounts of both an acridinium photocatalyst and a cobaloxime complex. 2-Aryl-substituted cyclopropanols react giving α,β-unsaturated ketones, while dehydrogenative ring opening of 2-alkyl-substituted substrates affords mixtures of α,β- and β,γ-enones. The reaction starts with one-electron oxidation of a cyclopropanol to cyclopropyloxy radical, presumably, by the photoexcited acridinium catalyst. We also found that Co(dmgBF2)2(MeCN)2 complex under an air atmosphere and irradiation with blue LEDs or upon heating can serve as a hydroxycyclopropane oxidant.

A photochemical approach to 18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methylandrost-13-ene steroids

A photochemical approach to 18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methylandrost-13-ene unit of the long-term metabolites of 17-methylated androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) is reported. It is based on a visible light-promoted radical decarboxylative alkynylation of steroidal redox-active ester. The developed method was used in synthesis of the long-term metabolite of AAS oxymesterone.