The effects of fourteen new, orally administered synthetic analogs of gossypol on testicular ultrastructure and fertility in hamsters and the spermicidal properties of these compounds, as well as of the optical isomers of gossypol against hamster and human sperm in vitro, are reported in this study. Test compounds were administered to adult male hamsters by daily gavage for 9 weeks at doses ranging from 15 to 50 mg/kg. The results of this study have demonstrated that the fourteen new gossypol analogs evaluated herein are not effective as male antifertility agents and their in vitro activity or lack of activity as spermicides is unrelated to their in vivo contraceptive potential. In addition, the results of the study suggest that (1) the isopropyl moiety of the gossypol molecule, like the aldehyde group, is essential for its mechanism of action and (2) the pathognomonic defect in the mitochondrial sheath induced by gossypol appears to be related to its unique activity as a male antifertility agent. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Three isomeric hemigossypol derivatives (3,4,5) have been synthesized. Two of these derivatives (3,4) and one synthetic intermediate (7) have been shown to have activity comparable to gossypol (1) in a sperm motility assay.

Two delta8-THC derivatives, 4a and 4b, with functionalized side chains were synthesized. Treatment of (+)-trans-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol with the resorcinal 2b followed by removal of the dithiol group with HgO--BF3-Et2O gave the aldehyde 3b. A Wittig reaction of dimethyl (2-oxoheptyl)phosphate with 3b furnished 4a, which was reduced to 4b. Compounds 4a and 4b showed potent cannabinoid-like activity in mice.

A series of 7-alkanoyl-substituted hydromorphone derivatives were prepared by acylation of the morpholine enamines. The most potent compound (6i) of the series was found to have agonist activity of the same order of magnitude as that of buprenorphine. The N-cyclopropylmethyl-substituted series was found to exhibit structure-activity relationships for analgesia and narcotic antagonism similar to those of the endo-ethanotetrahydrooripavines.