SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF NEW HETEROCYCLIC AROMATIC RETINOIDS

A series of 3-aryl-2H-1-benzopyrancarboxylic acid derivatives was synt hesized and evaluated as Retinoic Acid Receptor (RAR) agonists. By mod ifications of the 3-aryl group, we have obtained new retinoids exhibit ing potent cellular differentiating activities and high affinities for RARs. Moreover, hydrogenation of the 2H-1-benzopyran ring led to the -naphthalen-2-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-7-yl carboxylic acid, ch aracterized by a RAR beta binding profile. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science L td.