Synthesis of thyroid hormone analogues. Part 1. Preparation of 3′heteroarylmethyl-3,5-di-iodo- L -thyronines via phenol–dinitrophenol condensation and relationships between structure and selective thyromimetic activity

3′-Heteroarylmethyl analogues (1)–(8) of the natural thyroid hormone 3,3′,5-tri-iodo-L-thyronine (T3) were synthesized as potential selective (cardiac-sparing) thyromimetics. The diphenyl ether moiety was constructed by condensation of 3-substituted 4-methoxyphenols with a 3,5-dinitro-L-tyrosine derivative. Synthesis of the key phenols (28)–(32) required the in situ preparation, at low temperatures, of the novel metallated species 2-lithio-5-methoxypyridine (14), 5-lithio-2-methoxypyrimidine (15), 5-lithio-2-methylpyridine (16), 5-bromo-4-lithio-2-methoxypyridine (18), and 2,6-difluoro-3-lithiopyridine (19), followed by reaction with the benzaldehyde (20). Alternative routes to the pyridazinone (36) and thiazolone (37) phenols were developed from the benzyl bromide (33). Structure-activity relationships indicate that selective thyromimetic activity is associated with 2-oxyheteroaren-5-ylmethyl 3′-substitution, as found in the pyridone (1), pyridazinone (2), hydroxypyridine (4) and thiazolone (8). The location of the oxy substituent in the heterocycle is critical for both hormonal activity and for binding to the T3 receptor.