SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF 2-HYDROXY DERIVATIVES OF DIGITOXIGENIN AND 3-EPIDIGITOXIGENIN

The four stereoisomers of the 2-hydroxy derivatives of digitoxigenin a nd 3-epidigitoxigenin have been synthesized, their structures establis hed by NMR, and their binding affinity for the digitalis receptor on N a+,K+-ATPase evaluated. These derivatives showed lower affnities than the parent compounds. The hydrophilic hydroxy groups in the alpha posi tion are more detrimental to the affinity than hydroxy groups in the b eta position. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.