1,1,2-triphenylbut-1-enes: relationship between structure, estradiol receptor affinity, and mammary tumor inhibiting properties.

1,1,2-Triphenylbut-1-enes, which are substituted with acetoxy groups on one, two, or three aromatic rings in the para and/or meta positions, were synthesized. The identity of the occurring E and Z isomers were established by 1H NMR spectroscopy. A study on structure-activity relationships was carried out with regard to estradiol receptor affinity and to inhibiting effects on the growth of a postmenopausal human mammary carcinoma implanted in nude mice. The para-substituted compounds generally exhibited a higher receptor affinity and a better antitumor activity than the corresponding meta-substituted ones. The E isomers were superior to the respective Z isomers in those two properties. The tumor-inhibiting effect of the mono- and disubstituted compounds was better than that of the trisubstituted ones. Except for the trisubstituted compounds, they all show a good correlation between estradiol receptor affinity and antitumor activity. One of the compounds was also tested on the 9,10-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene-induced, hormone-dependent mammary carcinoma of the Sprague-Dawley rat, and the results corresponded to those obtained in the xenograft tumor.