Mibolerone has both higher affinity and greater selectivity for the androgen receptor (AR) than does the related potent AAS metribolone (17α-methyl-19-nor-δ9,11-testosterone),[6][7] although potent and significant progestogenic activity remains present.[8] However, another study found that mibolerone and metribolone had similar affinity for the progesterone receptor (PR) but that mibolerone only had around half the affinity of metribolone for the AR.[9]
Relative affinities (%) of mibolerone and related steroids[10][11]
Values are percentages (%). Reference ligands (100%) were progesterone for the PRTooltip progesterone receptor, testosterone for the ARTooltip androgen receptor, estradiol for the ERTooltip estrogen receptor, DEXATooltip dexamethasone for the GRTooltip glucocorticoid receptor, and aldosterone for the MRTooltip mineralocorticoid receptor.
Mibolerone, also known as 7α,17α-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone (DMNT) or as 7α,17α-dimethylestr-4-en-17β-ol-3-one,[8] is a syntheticestranesteroid and a 17α-alkylatedderivative of nandrolone (19-nortestosterone). It is the 17α-methyl derivative of trestolone (7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone; MENT).[8] Other related AAS include metribolone (17α-methyl-δ9,11-19-nortestosterone) and dimethyltrienolone (7α,17α-dimethyl-δ9,11-19-nortestosterone).
Synthesis
Nandrolone (1) appears to be used to make mibolerone. For comparison, also see bolasterone and calusterone. The first step involves extending the conjugation of the enone function by an additional double bond. Chloranil (tetrachloroquinone) is the forerunner of dichlorodicyanoquinone (DDQ), a reagent used extensively for introducing additional unsaturation in the progestin and corticoid series.
In the case at hand, heating acetate (1) with chloranil gives the conjugated dienone (2), and reaction of that compound with methylmagnesium bromide in the presence of cuprous chloride leads to addition of the methyl group to position 7 at the end of the conjugated system (3). The stereochemistry of the product again illustrates the preference for additions from the backside. The alcohol at C17 is then oxidized to a ketone (4). Enamines are commonly used to activate adjacent functions; they are also not infrequently used, as in this case, as protecting groups. Thus, reaction of the intermediate with pyrrolidine gives dienamine (5). This transformation emphasizes the clear difference in reactivity between ketones at C7 and C17. A second methyl Grignard addition gives the corresponding 17α-methyl derivative. Hydrolysis of the enamine function then affords mibolerone (6).
The same structure of 3 and 4 also containing an 11β-fluoro group has also been described in the patent literature.[12]
Mibolerone is the generic name of the drug and its INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name, USANTooltip United States Adopted Name, and BANTooltip British Approved Name.[3][4] It is also known as dimethylnortestosterone (DMNT) and by its former developmental code name U-10997.[3][4]
Brand names
Mibolerone has been marketed under the brand names Cheque Drops and Matenon.[4][3][5]
^Murthy LR, Johnson MP, Rowley DR, Young CY, Scardino PT, Tindall DJ (1986). "Characterization of steroid receptors in human prostate using mibolerone". Prostate. 8 (3): 241–53. doi:10.1002/pros.2990080305. PMID2422638. S2CID43768386.
^Schilling K, Liao S (1984). "The use of radioactive 7 alpha, 17 alpha-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone (mibolerone) in the assay of androgen receptors". Prostate. 5 (6): 581–8. doi:10.1002/pros.2990050603. PMID6333679. S2CID86370224.
^ abcMarkiewicz L, Gurpide E (1997). "Estrogenic and progestagenic activities of physiologic and synthetic androgens, as measured by in vitro bioassays". Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 19 (4): 215–22. PMID9228646.
