Synthesis of some epoxy and/or N-oxy 17-picolyl and 17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene derivatives and evaluation of their biological activity

Steroidal epoxy and/or N-oxy 17-picolyl and 17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene derivatives have been prepared using 3 beta,17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-picolyl-androst-5-ene (1), 3 beta-acetoxy-17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene (2), and 3 beta-hydroxy-17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene (3) as synthetic precursors. The compounds 2 and/or 3 were reacted with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA). The compounds synthesized from 2 were 17-picolinylidene-N-oxide 4, 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxy and 5 beta,6 beta-epoxy-17-picolinylidene-N-oxide 5 and 6, and 5 alpha,6 alpha:17 alpha,2 alpha and 5 beta,6 beta:17 alpha,20 alpha-diepoxy-N-oxide 7 and 8. Starting from compound 3, a mixture of 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxy and 5 beta,6 beta-epoxy-17-picolinylidene 9 and 10, 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxy and 5 beta,6 beta-epoxy-17-picolinylidene-N-oxide 11 and 12, and 5 alpha,6 alpha:17 alpha,20 alpha- and 5 beta,6 beta:17 alpha,20 alpha-diepoxy-N-oxide 13 and 14 were obtained. From compounds 15 and 18, obtained from 1 and 3 by the Oppenauer oxidation, the 4 alpha,5 alpha-epoxy and 4 beta,5 beta-epoxy derivatives 16, 17 and 20, 21 were prepared by oxidation with 30% H2O2 Oxidation of 18 with MCPBA yielded only the N-oxide 19. The structures of compounds 15 and 18 were proved by the X-ray analysis. Compounds 1-6, 9, 15, 17, 18, and 21 were tested on activity against the enzyme aromatase. Antitumor activity against three tumor cell lines (human breast adenocarcinoma ER+, MCF-7, human breast adenocarcinoma ER-, MDA-MB-231, and prostate cancer PC3) was evaluated. Three tested compounds (1, 4, and 19) showed strong activity against PC3, the IC50 values being in the range 0.55-10 mu M, whereas compound 17 showed strong activity against MDA-MB-231 (IC50 10.4 mu M). (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.