hexestrol

Chemical properties

Odorless, white, crystalline powder; soluble in ether, acetone, alcohol, and methanol; practically insoluble in water; sensitive to light.

The Uses of hexestrol

Hexestrol is used for the same indications as estrone. It is also used for prostate cancer or its hypertrophy in men.

The Uses of hexestrol

Medicine (estrogenic hormone).

Definition

A nonsteroid, synthetic estrogen.

Synthesis

Hexestrol, 4,4
-(1,2-diethylethylene)diphenol (28.1.29), is a derivative of |á,|?- diphenylethane, and it is a synthetic estrogen. Hexestrol is made in a Wurtz dimerization reaction of 1-bromo-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane (28.1.27) in the presence of sodium, magnesium, aluminum, or iron. The initial 1-bromo-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane (28.1.27) is made in turn by addition reaction of hydrogen bromide to 4-methoxy-1- propenylbenzene. Subsequent removal of the methoxy protective groups from the resulting dimerization product (28.1.28) using hydroiodic acid gives hexestrol (28.1.29).