Efficient synthesis and biological evaluation of all a-ring diastereomers of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its 20-epimer Original Research Article

An improved synthesis of the diastereomers of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 () was accomplished utilizing our practical route to the A-ring synthon. We applied this procedure to synthesize for the first time all possible A-ring diastereomers of 20-epi-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (). Ten-step conversion of 1-(4-methoxyphenoxy)but-3-ene (), including enantiomeric introduction of the C-3 hydroxyl group to the olefin by the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, provided all four possible stereoisomers of A-ring enynes (3), i.e., (3R,5R)-, (3R,5S)-, (3S,5R)- and (3S,5S)-bis[(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]oct-1-en-7-yne, in good overall yield. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of the A-ring synthon with the 20-epi CD-ring portion (), (E)-(20S)-de-A,B-8-(bromomethylene)cholestan-25-ol, followed by deprotection, afforded the requisite diastereomers of 20-epi-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (). The biological profiles of the synthesized stereoisomers were assessed in terms of affinities for vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D binding protein (DBP), HL-60 cell differentiation-inducing activity and in vivo calcium-regulating potency in comparison with the natural hormone.