Highly potent 2-methylene analogs of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: synthesis and biological evaluation

As a continuation of our studies on structure-activity relationship of vitamin D compounds we synthesized new calcitriol analogs characterized by the presence of an exomethylene substituent at C-2. The A-ring dienyne synthon was prepared from commercially available quinic acid by two different synthetic routes, and it was then coupled with the triflate enol derived from the corresponding (20R)- and (20S)-Grundmann ketone by palladium catalyzed Sonogashira reaction. The obtained 1α,25-dihydroxy-2-methylene-vitamin D3 analogs, epimeric at C-20, were biologically evaluated by in vitro and in vivo studies. Both isomers exhibited unique activity profiles and greater biological potency than 1α,25-(OH)2D3. It was established that the biological profiles of the newly obtained vitamin D compounds depend on the configuration at C-20. Thus, introduction of 2-methylene substituent to the calcitriol molecule together with alteration of stereochemistry of its side chain induces remarkable changes in a VDR-mediated signaling response and enhances biological activity. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Vitamin D Workshop'.