title: Omega-pyridiniumalkylethers of steroidal phenols: new compounds with potent antibacterial and antiproliferative activities.
abstract: Novel omega-pyridiniumalkylethers of two steroidal phenols were synthesized as compounds with potential antimicrobial activity. 3-Hydroxy-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-17-one and 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-17-one were reacted with omega,omega'-dibromoalkanes to omega-bromoalkoxy-estra-1,3,5(10)-trienes followed by reaction with pyridine to obtain the desired steroidal omega-pyridiniumalkoxy compounds as bromides. Their antimicrobial activity against strains of multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis and fast growing mycobacteria depends clearly on the length of the alkyl chain. A strong broadband activity has been found for the compounds with eight or 10 C-atoms; in some cases better than ciprofloxacin or cetylpyridinium salts. In addition, the antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity depends on the chain length, too. The differentiation between antibacterial and cytotoxic activity is better for the steroid hybrid molecules than the cetylpyridinium salts. These new compounds can serve as lead compounds for further optimization.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Organische Chemie und Makromolekulare Chemie der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Lessingstr. 8, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holzhey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schönecker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beckert
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Möllmann
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dahse
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010621:Phenazopyridine / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013256:Steroids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004987:Ethers; D010636:Phenols; D013256:Steroids; D010621:Phenazopyridine