Dimeric Ecdysteroid Analogues and Their Interaction with the Drosophila Ecdysteroid Receptor

Abstract

Three structurally related specific ecdysteroid derivatives, 7,7'-dimers of 14-deoxy-8(14)-ene transformed 20-hydroxyecdysone, ponasterone A and ajugasterone C, were obtained by photochemical transformation. The structures of the dimeric ecdysteroids were identified mainly by NMR spectroscopy supported by MS and IR spectroscopy. Yields of the dimerisation products were dependent on the reactant concentrations and photoreaction conditions. Inert gas atmosphere supported high yields, whereas oxygen atmosphere fully prevented the dimer formation. All the three dimers retained a rather high agonistic activity at the ecdysteroid receptor in the Drosophila BII bioassay when compared with the relevant original ecdysteroids.