Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of a range of sulfonated derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzyl imidazole as highly potent inhibitors of rat testicular 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P-450(17alpha)).

We report the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of a range of 4-sulfonated derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzyl imidazole which has been targetted against the two components of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P-450(17alpha)), namely, 17alpha-hydroxylase (17alpha-OHase) and 17,20-lyase (lyase). The results from the biochemical testing suggest that the compounds synthesised are highly potent inhibitors possessing excellent selectivity towards the lyase component.