Effects of molecular modification on hypocholesteremic activity of 1,3-bis(substituted phenoxy)-2-propanones and related derivatives.

A series of 1,3-bis(substituted phenoxy)-2-propanones, long-chain ketones, and related derivatives has been synthesized, and it has been found that certain analogues produce significant lowering of serum cholesterol levels in Sprague-Dawley rats. These compounds possess no estrogenic properties and are nontoxic at 10 mg/kg/day. Physical studies on these compounds include an attempt to correlate hypocholesteremic activity with the lipophilic, electronic, and steric properties of the compounds. The 1-octanol-H2O partition coefficient was measured for certain derivatives and the pi constant for the substituents was calculated. Hammett's sigma constants for aromatic substituents were obtained from the literature. The only correlation found to exist is between hypocholesteremic activity and steric size and position of the aromatic substituents in the propanones.