Synthesis and evaluation of 4-alkylanilines as mammary tumor inhibiting aromatase inhibitors

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0223-5234(92)90188-7

The 4-alkylanilines 1-20 were synthesized to elucidate the importance of the glutarimide moiety for the aromatase inhibiting activity of aminoglutethimide [3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione, AG], the only non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor which is commercially available at present. The most interesting compounds were the (4-aminophenyl)cycloalkanes 4-6 (4, c-pentyl; 5, c-hexyl; 6, c-heptyl) and the 1-alkyl-1-(4-aminophenyl)cyclohexanes 1-3 (1, CH₃; 2, C₂H₅; 3, n-C₃H₇). Derivatives 1-6 are stronger inhibitors of human placental aromatase than AG exhibiting relative potencies from 1.5 to 2.7 (AG≡1). For selectivity of action, the inhibition of desmolase (cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme) was determined. Compounds 1-3 showed an inhibition comparable to AG, whereas compounds 4-6 exhibited no effect on desmolase. Being more potent and selective aromatase inhibitors in vitro, compounds 4-6, however, were not superior to AG in vivo, when the reduction of plasma estradiol concentration and the tumor inhibiting activity (PMSG-primed SD rats and DMBA-induced mammary carcinoma of the SD rat, postmenopausal model) were concerned.