C‑6α- vs C‑7α-Substituted Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors: Which Is Better? Synthesis, Biochemical Evaluation, Docking Studies, and Structure–Activity Relationships

C-6α and C-7α androstanes
were studied to disclose
which position among them is more convenient to functionalize to reach
superior aromatase inhibition. In the first series, the study of C-6
versus C-7 methyl derivatives led to the very active compound 9 with IC50 of 0.06 μM and Ki = 0.025 μM (competitive inhibition). In the second series,
the study of C-6 versus C-7 allyl derivatives led to the best aromatase
inhibitor 13 of this work with IC50 of 0.055
μM and Ki = 0.0225 μM (irreversible
inhibition). Beyond these findings, it was concluded that position
C-6α is better to functionalize than C-7α, except when
there is a C-4 substituent simultaneously. In addition, the methyl
group was the best substituent, followed by the allyl group and next
by the hydroxyl group. To rationalize the structure–activity
relationship of the best inhibitor 13, molecular modeling
studies were carried out.