FERROLE-ESTRADIOL COMPLEX AS A TEST FOR RECEPTOR DIMERIZATION

We describe the synthesis of a structure based on the iron carbonyl me diated head-to-head coupling of two molecules of 17 alpha-ethynylestra diol that leads ultimately to a ferrole. This compound was prepared wi th the aim of probing the mechanism of action of the estradiol recepto r; spectroscopic, molecular modelling and biochemical studies are repo rted. The estradiol-ferrole cluster retains a weak, but not zero, affi nity for the estradiol receptor. There is reversible binding to the re ceptor, and this is rationalized in terms of the pK(R+) value of - 13. 1 found for the bioorganometallic complex.