Diethylstilbestrol Chemical Properties

Melting point:

170-172 °C(lit.)

Boiling point:

351.51°C (rough estimate)

Density 

1.1096 (rough estimate)

refractive index 

1.4800 (estimate)

storage temp. 

0-6°C

solubility 

methanol: 0.1 g/mL, clear, faintly yellow

pka

pKa 9.02(H2O t=25 I=0.025) (Uncertain)

form 

Crystalline Powder

color 

White to almost white

Water Solubility 

PRACTICALLY INSOLUBLE

Merck 

13,3155

BRN 

2056095

Stability:

Isomerizes rapidly in Benzene, Chloroform, and Ether. Keep Shielded from light.

CAS DataBase Reference

56-53-1(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Diethylstilbesterol(56-53-1)

IARC

1 (Vol. 21, Sup 7, 100A) 2012

EPA Substance Registry System

Diethylstilbestrol (56-53-1)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

T,N

Risk Statements 

45-61-36/37/38-51/53-40

Safety Statements 

53-36/37/39-45-60-61-36/37

RIDADR 

UN 3077 9/PG 3

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

WJ5600000

F 

10

HazardClass 

6.1(b)

PackingGroup 

III

HS Code 

29072990

Hazardous Substances Data

56-53-1(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 oral in rat: > 3gm/kg

MSDS

• Language:EnglishProvider:Diethylstilbestrol
• Language:EnglishProvider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:EnglishProvider:ACROS

Diethylstilbestrol Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

White Solid

Originator

DES,Amfre-Grant,US,1946

Uses

A synthetic, nonsteroidal estrogen. Recomended solvents are DMSO, DMF and ethanol, even in these solvents do not store in solution for any prolonged period of time.

Indications

Diethylstilbestrol is one of the older synthetic estrogens in use. It was used to treat prostate cancer but is now rarely used for this purpose because of its adverse effects，although it is occasionally used in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. It is taken orally in tablet form.

Manufacturing Process

50 parts by weight of p-hydroxypropiophenone are dissolved in 200 parts by weight of a 12.5% solution of caustic soda and shaken with 350 parts by weight of 3% sodium amalgam. The sodium salt of the pinacol thereby precipitating is reacted with glacial acetic acid, whereby the free pinacol is obtained (MP 205°C to 210°C, after purification 215°C to 217°C). The yield amounts to 95% of the theoretical. The pinacol is suspended in ether and gaseous hydrogen chloride introduced, whereby water separates and the pinacolin formed is dissolved in the ether, from which it is obtained by evaporation as a viscous oil (diacetateof MP 91°C). The yield is quantitative.
40 parts by weight of pinacolin are dissolved in ethyl alcohol and gradually treated with 80 parts by weight of sodium under reflux. The solution is decomposed with water and the pinacolin alcohol formed extracted from the neutralized solution with ether. The pinacolin alcohol is a viscous oil which is characterized by a dibenzoate of MP 172°C. The yield is 95% of the theoretical.
A solution of 30 parts by weight of pinacolin alcohol in ether is saturated with hydrogen chloride at room temperature and the ether solution then agitated with bicarbonate. After concentration by evaporation it leaves behind the crude diethylstilbestrol [α,β-(p,p'-dihydroxydiphenyl)-α,β-diethylethylene] which, when recrystallized from benzene, melts at 170°C to 171°C. The yield amounts to 75% of the calculated. The total yield of diethylstilbestrol, calculated on p-hydroxypropiophenone, is 68% of the theoretical.

brand name

Stilbestrol (Tablicaps); Stilbetin (Bristol-Myers Squibb);Distilbene;Oestro-gynedron;Stilphostrol.

Therapeutic Function

Estrogen

World Health Organization (WHO)

Diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen which is a stilbene derivative, was introduced into obstetric practice in the late 1940s and subsequently widely used for the treatment of threatened abortion. This use was later shown to be associated with an increased risk of vaginal cancer in the offspring which resulted in restrictive regulatory action in several countries. Diethylstilbestrol and other stilbenes remain available in many countries, however, for the treatment of certain hormone-dependent neoplasms including carcinoma of the prostate and postmenopausal breast cancer. (Reference: (WHODI) WHO Drug Information, 77.1, 16, 1977)

General Description

At first glance, it might be surprising that synthetic nonsteroidal molecules such as diethylstilbestrol (DES) could have the same activity as estradiol or other estrogens. DES can be viewed, however, as a form of estradiol with rings B and C open and a six-carbon ring D. The activity of DES analogs was explained in 1946. It was proposed that the distance between the two DES phenol OH groups was the same as the 3-OH to 17-OH distance of estradiol; therefore, they could both fit the same receptor. Medicinal chemists have shown the OH-to-OH distance to be actually 12.1 ? in DES and 10.9 ? in estradiol. In aqueous solution, however, estradiol has two water molecules that are hydrogen bonded to the 17-OH. If one of the two water molecules is included in the distance measurement, there is a perfect fit with the two OH groups of DES. This suggests that water may have an important role for estradiol in its receptor site.
It is now generally accepted that the estrogens must have a phenolic moiety for binding, but some investigators propose that the receptor may be flexible enough to accommodate varying distances between the two key hydroxyls. This point about estrogens needing a phenolic ring for high-affinity binding to the ER is critical. Steroids with a phenolic A ring and related phenolic compounds lack high-affinity binding to the other steroid hormone receptors.

General Description

Odorless tasteless white crystalline powder.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Diethylstilbestrol is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong bases, acid chlorides and acid anhydrides .

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for Diethylstilbestrol are not available; however, Diethylstilbestrol is probably combustible.

Side effects

These include sodium retention and oedema，nausea，gynaecomastia and impotence in men, and venous and arterial thrombosis. It can cause bone pain and hypercalcaemia when used for breast cancer.

Safety Profile

Confirmed carcinogen producing skin, liver, and lung tumors in exposed humans as well as uterine and other reproductive system tumors in the female offspring of exposed women. Experimental carcinogenic, neoplas tigenic, tumorigenic, and teratogenic data. A transplacental carcinogen. A human teratogen by many routes. Poison by intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes. It causes glandular system effects by sktn contact. Human reproductive effects by ingestion: abnormalspermatogenesis; changes in testes, epididymis, and sperm duct; menstrual cycle changes or disorders; changes in female ferulity; unspecified maternal effects; developmental abnormalities of the fetal urogenital system; germ cell effects in offspring; and delayed effects in newborn. Implicated in male impotence and enlargement of male breasts. Other experimental reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. See also ETHINYL ESTRADIOL.

Carcinogenicity

Diethylstilbestrol is known to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans.

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