Structure-activity studies of 16-methoxy-16-methyl prostaglandins

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Abstract
The synthesis of the pure diastereoisomer of 16-methoxy-16-methyl-PGF2.alpha., PGE2, and PGE1 is described. The absolute configuration of C-16 was established by chemical methods, while the absolute C-15 configurations of the diastereoisomers were assigned tentatively on the basis of their chromatographic behavior and NMR spectra. The synthetic prostaglandin analogues were evaluted for antisecretory, antifertility, and diarrheogenic effects. Both the C-15 and C-16 configurations were found to be critical for the biological activities. These studies indicate that the introdution of the methyl and methoxy groups at C-16 into the prostaglandin analogues markedly increases the ratio of antisecretory to diarrheogenic action. One of the PGE1 derivatives, 9f(15.alpha.,16R) (MDL 646, mexiporostil), was selected for further pharmacological evaluation and is currently under clinical investigation.