Synthesis and structure–activity investigation of iodinated arylhydantoins and arylthiohydantoins for development as androgen receptor radioligands

In 2004, researchers Marcian E. Van Dort and Yong-Woon Jung synthesized and investigated iodinated arylhydantoins and arylthiohydantoins as potential androgen receptor radioligands for external diagnostic imaging of prostate cancer tumor sites. They created a series of side-chain derivatives of the arylhydantoin RU 58841 and the arylthiohydantoin RU 59063, replacing the aromatic trifluoromethyl group with iodine. Derivatives with cyanomethyl, methoxyethyl, and propenyl side-chains showed moderately high affinity towards the rat androgen receptor, while those with bulky lipophilic groups like benzyl and phenylpropyl were poorly tolerated. Superior binding affinities were found in derivatives with hydroxybutyl or methyl side-chains, suggesting their potential for development as radioiodinated androgen receptor ligands.