2-hydroxyestradiol-17 alpha and 4-hydroxyestradiol-17 alpha, catechol estrogen analogs with reduced estrogen receptor affinity.

2-Hydroxyest radiol-17 alpha and 4-hydroxyestradiol-17 alpha, the catechol derivatives of estradiol-17 alpha, have reduced affinity for hypothalamic, pituitary, and uterine estrogen receptors, but retain a potency for interaction with catechol-0-methyltransferase equal to that of the natural, 17 beta-hydroxy catechols. This dissociation of receptor binding and catecholamine interactions may allow the use of the 17 alpha catechols as a probe for the mechanism of action of the catechol estrogens.