Retinylnitrones: a new class of retinoids with chemopreventive action.

Retinoids containing a polar nitrone end group have been synthesized. This new class of extensively conjugated, open chain nitrones has been found to be effective in reversing the keratinization in hamster tracheal organ cultures. The highest activity was displayed by the retinylnitrone bearing the least bulky N-alkyl substituent, i. e., methylnitrone 1; its activity level was comparable to that of all-trans retinoic acid.