Synthesis and Biological Properties of New Stilbene Derivatives of Resveratrol as New Selective Aryl Hydrocarbon Modulators

We developed new stilbene derivatives of resveratrol (E)-1-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethene) selective for AhR and devoid of affinity for ER. Among the 24 stilbenes synthesized, all display a higher affinity than resveratrol for AhR. (E)-1-(4'-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(3,5-ditrifluoromethylphenyl)ethene (4e), (E)-1-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethene (4j), and (E)-1-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethene (4b) are selective, high-affinity AhR antagonists with, respective, Kis of 2.1, 1.4, and 1.2 nM. (E)-1-(4'-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethene (4i) displays a Ki of 0.2 nM and is a selective and high-affinity agonist on AhR.