title: New inhibitors of steroid 11beta-hydroxylase. Structure--activity relationship studies of metyrapone-like compounds.
abstract: A series of metyrapone analogues was synthesized for study as inhibitors of steroid 11beta-hydroxylase. Racemic mixtures of the new compounds were evaluated in vitro. Preliminary results revealed several analogues to be effective inhibitors of deoxycorticosterone hydroxylation. 2-(3-pyridyl)propiophenone (13) and alpha,beta-diphenyl-3-pyridineethanol (16) were the most active new compounds. Each was 65% as potent as metyrapone; 3-Pyridyl alpha-3-pyridylbenzyl ketone (3), 2-phenyl-2-(3-pyridyl)acetophenone (4), alpha-(diphenylmethyl)-3-pyridinemethanol (17), and 1,2-di-3-pyridyl-1-propanol (26) were 52, 32, 25, and 41% as inhibitory as metyrapone, respectively. Diphenylmethyl 3-pyridyl ketone (5), benzyl 3-pyridyl ketone (10), 2-(3-pyridyl)acetophenone (12), 2-phenyl-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-propanone (11), alpha,beta-di-3-pyridylphenethyl alcohol (15), and 1,2-di-3-pyridylethanol (27) had less than 25% the activity of metyrapone. All compounds displaying a metyrapone-like inhibition contained appropriately substituted alcoholic or ketonic functions. A phenyl or methyl group alpha to the carbon bearing the oxygen was necessary for appreciable activity. A 3-phridyl group alpha to the carbonyl carbon could be replaced by a phenyl group. For optimal activity, however, the other 3-pyridyl group of metyrapone could not be exchanged for a phenyl group.
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D003345:Corticosterone; D008797:Metyrapone