Synthesis of new C-25 and C-26 steroidal acids as potential ligands of the nuclear receptors DAF-12, LXR and GR

•A new method for the preparation of C-25 and C-26 steroidal acids is described.•A water-free work-up was applied to isolate the siylyil enol ether avoiding hydrolysis.•Three steroidal acids were synthesized as potential ligands of nuclear receptors.

A new methodology to obtain C-25 and C-26 steroidal acids starting from pregnenolone is described. Construction of the side chain was achieved by applying the Mukaiyama aldol reaction with a non-hydrolytic work-up to isolate the trapped silyl enol ether with higher yields. Using this methodology we synthesized three new steroidal acids as potential ligands of DAF-12, Liver X and Glucocorticoid nuclear receptors and studied their activity in reporter gene assays. Our results show that replacement of the 21-CH3 by a 20-keto group in the side chains of the cholestane scaffold of DAF-12 or Liver X receptors ligands causes the loss of the activity.