Stereoisomers at positions 13, 16 and 17 of a steroid 17β-HSD1 inhibitor were prepared and characterized.
Methyl-18 inversion, from β to α face, is harmful to inhibition of 17β-HSD1.
Methyl-18 inversion, from β to α face, reduces undesirable estrogenic activity.
Compound 3a provides the best compromise between 17β-HSD1 inhibition and non estrogenicity.
Two enzyme-compound interactions were observed by molecular modeling.