“…Biological activity data revealed that 17-picolinylidene-16-one derivatives were more potent AIs than 17-picolyl and 17-picolinylidene derivatives, and compound 8 (Fig.2.) was the most effective inhibitor of aromatase (93.3% inhibition). [26] The presence of a cyano group in the non-steroidal AIs letrozole and anastrozole suggested the introduction of cyano functionality in the D ring, and several compounds with a 17-methyl-16,17-seco-16-nitrile-17-one moiety, with 1,4-diene-3-on, 4,6-dien-3-on, 1,4,6-trien-3-on, and 4-hydroxy-4-en-3-one systems, were synthesized. Compound 9 (Fig.2.…”