MOLECULE

Hexestrol

Hexestrol also known as hexanestrol, hexoestrol, and dihydrodiethylstilbestrol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as stilbenes. These are organic compounds containing a 1,2-diphenylethylene moiety. Stilbenes (C6-C2-C6) are derived from the common phenylpropene (C6-C3) skeleton building block. The introduction of one or more hydroxyl groups to a phenyl ring lead to stilbenoids. Along with diethylstilbestrol, hexestrol is one of the most potent known estrogens (PMID: 21013428). It is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen of the stilbestrol group related to diethylstilbestrol which was used to treat estrogen deficiency. Hexestrol has been available and used in ester forms, such as hexestrol diacetate, hexestrol dicaprylate, hexestrol diphosphate, and hexestrol dipropionate. When compared to estradiol, hexestrol has approximately 302% and 234% of the affinity the estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, respectively (PMID: 9048584). Hexestrol has also been found in the volatile fraction of Cannabis sativa samples obtained from police seizures (PMID: 26657499).