Dimethylstilbestrol
Dimethylstilbestrol is a nonsteroidal estrogen of the stilbestrol group related to diethylstilbestrol which was never marketed. It is a so-called "weak", "impeded", or "short-acting" estrogen similarly to estriol and meso-butoestrol. The affinity of DMS for the ER was reported as about 10% of that of estradiol. For comparison, diethylstilbestrol had 140% of the affinity of estradiol for the ER.
The endometrial proliferation dose of DMS in women is 20 mg. A single 12 mg intramuscular injection of DMS has a duration of approximately 12 days in humans.
Synthesis
In the old school synthesis, reaction of diacetyl with 2 molecules of phenol occurs in a manner similar to BPA. Pinacol rearrangement then yields the stilbenoid. What is surprising is that if m-cresol was used instead of phenol, the resulting product had a potency 0.5 times the potency of DES, which is remarkably potent.In the newer version of the synthesis, a McMurry reaction between on 4-Acetylanisole and the appropriate choice of a reagent will yield 1,1'-bis . Demethylation of the two ethers then concludes the synthesis.