Intramolecular [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition of Altrenogest: Confirmation of Product Structure, Theoretical Mechanistic Insight, and Bioactivity Assessment.
Nicholas C PflugEric V PattersonDalma Martinović-WeigeltEdward P KolodziejJames B GloerKristopher McNeillDavid M CwiertnyKristine H WammerPublished in: The Journal of organic chemistry (2019)
While studying the environmental fate of potent endocrine-active steroid hormones, we observed the formation of an intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition product (2) with a novel hexacyclic ring system following the photolysis of altrenogest (1). The structure and absolute configuration were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Theoretical computations identified a barrierless two-step cyclization mechanism for the formation of 2 upon photoexcitation. 2 exhibited progesterone, estrogen, androgen, and pregnane X receptor activity, albeit generally with reduced potency relative to 1.