World Health Organization (WHO)
Hexestrol is a stilbene derivative. See WHO comment for
diethylstilbestrol.
(Reference: (WHODI) WHO Drug Information, 77.1, 16, 1977)
Purification Methods
Crystallise meso-Hexestero from *benzene or aqueous EtOH (m 185-188o). The meso-dibenzoyl derivative has m 236-237o. The 3RS,4RS(±)-racemate [5776-72-7] crystallises from pet ether, *C6H6/pet ether, Et2O/pet ether, or MeOH/H2O and has m 128-129o . The (±)-dibenzoyl derivative has m 123-124o . The 3R,4R(+)-isomer [26614-21-1] and 3S,4S(-)-isomer [26614-22-2] crystallise from Et2O/pet ether with m 80 -80.5o and have [] D (+) and (-) 17.7o (c 5, EtOH). Their dibenzoyl derivatives have m 116.5o .[Beilstein 6 III 5503, 6 IV 6761.] They have estrogenic activity where optically active forms are more potent and they have antineoplastic activity. [Aboul-Enein et al. Anal Profiles Drug Subst 11 347 1982, J Am Chem Soc 65 4911941.]
