Porphyria-inducing activity of a series of pyridine and dihydropyridine compounds. Investigation in a cell culture system.

J Med Chem 1975 May;18(5):457-60    

Roomi MW

A series of analogs of 3 ,5-diethoxycarbonyl- 1 , 4 -dihydro- 2 , 4 , 6 -trimethylpyridine (DDC)was prepared and tested for porphyria - inducing activity in chick embryo liver cells . One of the analogs tested, viz. 3 ,5-di-tert-butoxycarbonyl- 1 , 4 -dihydro- 2 , 6 -dimethylpyridine, was found to be highly active despite the absence of a 4 -alkyl substituent. It was concluded that tert-butoxycarbonyl groups are resistant to enzymic hydrolysis and that compounds containing such groups are resistant to inactivation by chick embryo liver cells . Several analogs of DDC were found with considerably higher activity . These should be useful in inducing high levels of beta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase prior to undertaking the isolation of the enzyme.