Arto Karjalainen

A new triphenylethylene compound, Fc-1157a

SummaryThe basic pharmacological and biochemical properties of a new antiestrogen, Fc-1157a, are described. Fc-1157a is bound specifically and with high affinity to estrogen receptors. The binding is competitive with estradiol. Fc-1157a treatment induces translocation of estrogen receptors from cytoplasm to nucleus. The turnover rate of nuclear estrogen receptors is markedly lower than with estradiol, but is more rapid than after tamoxifen.Fc-1157a is an almost pure antiestrogen in rat uterus, but has intrinsic estrogenic activity in mouse uterus. In animal experiments Fc-1157a has shown antitumor properties, which are described in the companion paper.

Synthesis of new potent and selective aromatase inhibitors based on long-chained diarylalkylimidazole and diarylalkyltriazole molecule skeletons

A series of long-chained diarylalkylimidazoles and diarylalkyltriazoles were synthesized and evaluated for the inhibitory potency for aromatase (estrogen synthetase) activity in human placental microsomes. The relative specificity of inhibition was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (desmolase) in human placental mitochondria and the inhibition of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (a typical drug-metabolizing enzyme activity) in rat liver microsomes. The structural requirements including substituent effects for the strongest potency and for the highest specificity were delineated. alpha,omega-Diarylalkyltriazoles and imidazoles were the most interesting molecules, in which the geometric and optical isomerism displayed remarkable selectivity for aromatase inhibition.

Synthesis of benzobicyclo[2.2.1]heptylimidazoles as conformationally constrained adrenergic receptor antagonists

A facile method for the preparation of conformationally rigid analogues of the adrenergic α-2 receptor antagonist atipamezole and the adrenergic α-2 receptor agonist medetomidine has been developed. The efficient benzyne [4+2] cycloaddition reaction was used to give the core 7-acetylbenzonorbomadiene structure, which was subsequently elaborated to the corresponding imidazole-based syn and anti isomers by means of the classical Brederecks method.