Design, synthesis, and discovery of novel trans-stilbene analogues as potent and selective human cytochrome P450 1B1 inhibitors

A series of trans-stilbene derivatives containing a 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety were prepared through a new efficient solution phase synthetic pathway, and their inhibitory activities were evaluated on human cytochrome P450s (CYP) 1A1, 1A2, and 1B1 to find a potent and selective CYP1B1 inhibitor. We found that a substituent at the 2-position of the stilbene skeleton plays a very important role in discriminating between CYP1As and CYP1B1. Among the compounds tested, the most selective and potent CYP1B1 inhibitor was 2,3',4,5'-tetramethoxystilbene. Compound 7j, 2-[2-(3,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)vinyl]thiophene, showed greater inhibitory activities but had a lower selectivity toward all of the CYP1s tested.