Novel 9‑Alkyl- and 9‑Alkylidene-Substituted 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₃ Analogues: Synthesis and Biological Examinations

Continuing the structure–activity relationship studies in the vitamin D area, we designed and synthesized novel C-9 substituted calcitriol analogues, possessing different nonpolar groups at this position. 9α-Methyl-1α,25-(OH)2D3, both epimers of 9-methylene-10,19-dihydro-1α,25-(OH)2D3 as well as the parent vitamin with the “reversed” triene system, 9-methylene-19-nor-1α,25-(OH)2D3, were obtained from the previtamin D precursors, constructed by either Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira, or Stille couplings of the corresponding A- and C,D-ring fragments. An alternative synthetic path, leading to the latter vitamin and its homologue with 9-ethylidene group, involved formation of dienynes as precursors of the respective 19-norprevitamin D compounds. 9β-Methyl-19-nor-1α,25-(OH)2D3 was prepared by homogeneous hydrogenation with Wilkinson catalyst, and this analogue was found to be the most active in vitro. Moreover, 9α-methyl-1α,25-(OH)2D3 and 9-methylene-19-nor-1α,25-(OH)2D3 showed some in vitro activity, however, the in vivo assays indicated only weak calcemic potency of these compounds in the intestinal calcium transport.