A look back at steroid chemistry in the twentieth century always points toward bursts of innovation, and 10A-Isopregnenone fits right in. In the early days, chemists scrabbled for ways to tweak steroid backbones and stumbled across this compound during investigations into pregnane derivatives. There wasn't much buzz about it for the first few decades, but as the pharmaceutical world realized subtle structure shifts could produce huge shifts in biological activity, someone paid closer attention. In the 1970s and 80s, advances in spectroscopy and chromatography gave researchers sharper tools to separate and study minor modifications like the isopregnenone skeleton, and slowly, specific interest grew among labs focused on synthetic steroids and hormone analogs.
10A-Isopregnenone steps out of the shadows as a steroidal ketone, not nearly as famous as testosterone or progesterone, but with a loyal following among chemists and, increasingly, those in pharma and biotech. In simple terms, this molecule shares a backbone with some heavy-hitters of natural hormone chemistry, but it grabs attention for its structural tweaks at the 10 position. These shifts don’t just give grant proposals fancy molecular diagrams—they open doors to tailored biological effects, new medicinal chemistry leads, and serve as a springboard for further chemical modifications.
10A-Isopregnenone usually appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder, depending on purity and prep method. It holds up as a solid at room temperature, with a molecular formula often listed as C21H30O2. You see a melting point floating between 166 and 172°C, which hints at purity and subtle differences in crystal form. Chemically, the core structure doesn’t dissolve freely in water, but organic solvents like ethanol, chloroform, and DMSO treat it much more kindly. This hydrophobicity shapes its isolation, preparation, and every downstream application. Functional groups—the ketone at C-3 and that famed modification at C-10—stand out to both synthetic chemists and biologists for their reactivity and promise.
Any lab ordering 10A-Isopregnenone expects precise numbers. Stuff like purity, which often clears 98% by HPLC or GC. The certificate of analysis spells out absolute minimum limits for heavy metals—lead, arsenic, mercury under a strict microgram-per-kilogram ceiling. Water content, usually handled by Karl Fischer titration, stays below 0.50%. Packaging always contains batch numbers, lot tracking, recommended storage temperature (usually 2-8°C), and the safety data sheet walks buyers through handling and disposal. All these details keep synthetic chemists honest and let those at the bench repeat results reliably.
You won’t find vendors extracting 10A-Isopregnenone from ground-up animal tissue anymore. Usually, preparation starts with a precursor like pregnenolone. Laboratory syntheses often involve oxidation—sometimes chromium-based, sometimes relying on milder conditions. It might mean epimerization, careful protection and deprotection steps, with routine column chromatography for clean-up. Still, some chemists swear by semi-synthetic routes that shave a few steps and waste, using more contemporary green chemistry protocols. Either way, reproducibility depends on patience and purity at each juncture.
The ketone ring and that C10a configuration draw attention for downstream modifications. Chemists have alkylated, reduced, and even halogenated at specific positions, always on the hunt for derivatives that show novel bioactivity. Enzymatic transformations, often with specific bacteria or fungi, have made a comeback for selectivity and yield, although they’re finicky. Using catalytic hydrogenation or even photochemical tweaks, researchers have built small libraries of analogs, some destined for screens as anti-inflammatory or neuroactive agents. The raw reactivity profile is why the compound never really leaves the spotlight in a research setting.
Tracking this compound across the literature, you’ll see it parade under a small crowd of aliases: 10α-Isopregnenone, 10α-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, and a few vendor-specific trade names. Older pharmacy and chemical catalogs sometimes list it as isopregnanone or throw in catalog codes you’d expect from Sigma or TCI. Literature searches don’t get easier when authors favor different naming conventions, so a thorough read often means keeping an eye out for these variants.
No matter how routine the synthesis or application, safety takes a front seat. The compound carries the regular health and environmental hazard labels you see with most steroidal compounds. Personnel put on gloves, goggles, and use fume hoods whenever handling open powders. Waste disposal ties straight into local chemical regulations—many labs pack it under “organic solids” for specialized incineration. Chronic exposure is discouraged due to possible endocrine disruption—nobody gets cavalier. Industrial outfits layer on risk management, often keeping handling automated or behind closed systems.
Academic labs treat 10A-Isopregnenone as a versatile platform for understanding hormone activity and biosynthetic pathways. In drug development, it’s a starting point for analog design aimed at anti-inflammatory, androgenic, or even progestogenic activity. Some research points toward neuroprotective properties, spurring work in neurodegeneration models. You see it as a building block in chemical libraries—helpful for both in vitro screening and as reference material in metabolomics. The agricultural field briefly explored its use in hormone-sensitive crop research, though pharma and biotech continue to drive most demand.
Over time, R&D teams have started running deeper assays, moving from basic receptor binding to full-blown in vivo studies. Instrumentation upgrades—think: mass spectrometry, NMR, high-throughput bioassays—make it easier to pin down minor metabolites and track biological effect profiles. Companies in the endocannabinoid and steroid design space use it as a backbone to test new SAR (Structure-Activity Relationship) hypotheses. The search for new therapies with fewer side effects, especially for chronic inflammation and hormone disorders, keeps this compound on dozens of research dockets.
Toxicity gets serious attention in both academic and regulatory circles. Standard panels include acute oral, dermal, and inhalation assessments in model organisms. Data show that while the compound doesn’t react violently or degrade explosively, high doses reveal endocrine activity that flags caution for repeated exposure. Investigators monitor cell lines for cytotoxicity, particularly focusing on reproductive and neurological endpoints. The compound’s similarity to natural steroids raises red flags for hormone disruption, so tight exposure limits and clear MSDS guidelines shape every protocol.
Looking ahead, there’s a real sense of possibility for 10A-Isopregnenone and its analogs. Advances in green chemistry could soon mean cleaner, scalable syntheses, opening up new commercial routes. With the rising emphasis on precision medicine and individualized therapies, there’s hope for new drugs based on this skeleton that minimize traditional side effects. AI-driven drug discovery has started feeding 10A-Isopregnenone and its derivatives into predictive models, revealing new SAR ideas faster than classic trial-and-error. As regulatory paths clarify for synthetic steroids in neurology and immunology, expect to see this molecule and its cousins pulsing through future preclinical pipelines.
People outside labs probably never hear about 10A-Isopregnenone. It’s one of those names you don’t find on drugstore shelves or in popular wellness blogs. Scientists know it as part of a big, complex group called steroids—more specifically, it’s a derivative of pregnenolone. A mouthful, sure, but all it really means is that 10A-Isopregnenone works as a middle step in the body’s hormone factory line. It doesn’t put itself in the spotlight. Instead, it gets shuffled along, tweaked, and recycled to build bigger and more famous hormones.
Pharmaceutical companies look at 10A-Isopregnenone much like a carpenter looks at lumber. They’re less interested in the board itself and more in what it can build. 10A-Isopregnenone helps make other key steroid hormones—think cortisone, progesterone, and testosterone. Drug companies and researchers use it as a “starting material” for chemical reactions that crank out medication we actually take, such as corticosteroids for inflammation, hormone therapies, or even birth control pills.
For scientists designing better medications, having a solid, proven starting point saves trouble. They know what to expect from 10A-Isopregnenone. They can tweak its structure in the lab to create new compounds with specific properties—less side effects, longer duration, stronger targeting. One old chemistry principle always holds up: it’s a lot easier to change something slightly than to build it totally from scratch.
Steroids catch a bad reputation mostly because of the world of sports, but there’s real science and good medicine coming from these molecules. 10A-Isopregnenone has played its part, acting almost like a jack-of-all-trades in the steroid world. Drug makers tap into its chemistry to explore treatments for arthritis, eczema, asthma, and even some cancer types. All those medications owe a debt to this unglamorous building block.
Recent research has pointed out how pregnenolone-related compounds interact with the brain. 10A-Isopregnenone belongs to that family. The brain doesn’t just use classic neurotransmitters; it also reacts to neurosteroids made from molecules like this. A few early studies hint at potential for helping with mood, anxiety, and memory—though that’s a long road with lots of questions left open. I see this as an area where basic research could lay the groundwork for next-gen mental health therapies.
It’s tempting to paint any “precursor” compound as easy to use or turn into something useful. But making medications always brings trade-offs. With steroids, the line between helpful and harmful sometimes blurs. Small tweaks in these molecules can produce huge changes in how the body reacts, whether we’re talking liver health or immune response. Society still wrestles with finding safe, affordable, and non-addictive options, especially as new diseases crop up and old ones evolve.
Chemistry’s power really shows in places like this. A single molecule like 10A-Isopregnenone might launch a breakthrough treatment or spark new types of research. As someone who follows both science headlines and real-world patient needs, I’d bet on further investment in better ways to harness these chemical cornerstones. The drive to innovate will keep churning, making sure obscure names in chemistry textbooks someday translate into less pain and more hope for everyday people.
People keep asking about 10A-Isopregnenone. Most have run into it through fitness forums, supplement shops online, or friends at the gym. This compound, sometimes billed as a “neurosteroid” or a “new Nootropic,” claims to sharpen focus, dial down anxiety, and sometimes even nudge up gym performance. Anything promising brain or mood support gets attention. So is 10A-Isopregnenone safe to use, or are all these claims just noise built around something risky?
I get why people would try an edge. I’ve watched the supplement industry flood us with brain-boosting pills, from generic ginseng to prescription-style racetams. Everyone wants energy without coffee crashes, clear thoughts in a world full of distractions, and maybe even mild relief from stress or worry. Modern life pokes at every weakness in our brains. But early adoption of new supplements always brings a bigger question: are we looking at real benefit or just trading one problem for another?
This compound traces back to pregnenolone, one of the “parent hormones” produced by the body. From what I’ve read, 10A-Isopregnenone gets marketed as a “metabolite with no hormonal risk.” Companies selling it like to say it avoids the problems linked to steroid hormones, and label it as “non-androgenic” or “non-estrogenic.” Supposedly, one would get all the cognitive perks without the risk of hormonal side effects men and women worry about.
I haven’t found real clinical research supporting these claims, just scattered rat studies and a few anecdotes on bodybuilding forums. That’s a big problem. Real safety comes through human trials. Without that, nobody really knows how this thing acts inside the body, or whether microdoses done daily actually build up side effects nobody expects.
Some users online talk about headaches, jitters, or insomnia with high doses. A handful mention mood swings, maybe similar to what you’d see from strong steroid precursors. There’s always a risk when early adopters try something before proper science lays out the risks. Sure, everyone’s biology is different, but real adverse effects in even a few users deserve attention.
Supplement makers rely on “research chemical” labeling to dodge responsibility. If you get sick, nobody picks up the phone at support. There’s a worrying Wild West feel to this supplement category. The FDA treats most such compounds with suspicion, and crackdowns pop up every few seasons. I met someone who lost hundreds when their go-to shop got raided, product yanked with zero warning.
I always return to the same basics. Don’t believe online hype about brain miracles from something just discovered. Until a product gets full safety testing, you don’t know what you’re swallowing, especially as supplements in this gray market often arrive with dose inconsistencies, contamination, or even hidden illegal compounds mixed in.
Folks who chase brain enhancement or mood-boosting shortcuts should ask more questions about long-term impacts, especially if a family history of mood problems or hormone disorders exists. Before buying, people can push sellers for lab tests and batch specifics. A doctor or pharmacist’s ear is worth more than a flashy bottle and a gym rumor. No trendy boost is worth permanent brain or hormone damage.
10A-Isopregnenone slipped into conversation in health circles as a neurosteroid, showing up on supplement shelves and research studies focused on mood support and cognitive function. Scientists noticed this compound while exploring metabolites of progesterone and DHEA—hormones already familiar to folks who’ve looked into hormones and mental well-being.
Finding clear, consistent advice about 10A-Isopregnenone dosage is tricky. No FDA guidelines currently anchor it. Instead, supplement brands and internet forums toss around numbers based on early studies or anecdotal experience.
Across most commercial products, you’ll spot capsules in the range of 2–10 milligrams per serving. Some researchers chose a daily 10 mg dose in their pilot studies, noting perceived benefits without obvious side effects. Others report that lower doses, around 2-5 mg, still brought about positive mood shifts or sharper focus during the day. You won’t find consensus here—the best anyone can do involves looking at what’s out there, what feels safe, and starting low.
Hormones and their close relatives rarely forgive reckless decisions. A common mistake with niche supplements is assuming more means better. My years talking to people using nootropics or neuroactive aids taught me that mind-altering substances at the wrong dose tip the experience from positive to unpleasant shockingly fast. Even when a compound seems benign, taking liberty with the dose can create anxiety, fatigue, or headaches—sometimes the direct opposite of what someone wanted.
A supplement like 10A-Isopregnenone is aimed at brain chemistry. Small imbalances affect mood, energy, and even sleep. Anyone tempted to experiment should walk slowly, read credible sources, and, if possible, consult a physician who understands hormonal balance.
Scientific studies on 10A-Isopregnenone remain thin. The data mostly stops at small-scale studies or animal models, which might hint at mood improvements or stress resilience. No one yet knows the long-term effects in humans. Most of what lands on store shelves draws from generalizations based on related neurosteroids. Just because close relatives like pregnenolone seem safe at a certain dose doesn’t guarantee that 10A-Isopregnenone behaves the same way.
People interested in new supplements like this one often share a motivation—to feel better, to sharpen a foggy mind, to manage stress in ways that don’t rely on prescription drugs. There’s real value in that search. The space between what we know and what’s being marketed just calls for more honesty about unknowns and caution with what lands in the pill organizer.
A sensible path means checking in with healthcare professionals, especially those who don’t brush off questions about new or unusual compounds. Quality control also comes into play—some supplements lack third-party testing, so there’s always a risk the label exaggerates purity or skips over potential contaminants.
If curiosity still wins, starting with a low dose like 2 mg and paying attention to both benefits and unwanted effects seems like the smartest bet. Anything that tinkers with hormones becomes a personal experiment, and that deserves both respect and careful tracking.
10A-Isopregnenone tends to show up in conversations about supplements and hormone modulation. Folks turning to it often want a boost in energy, a sharper sense of focus, or a nudge in mood. It’s always tempting to believe a single compound can clean up more than one issue at once. But anything that touches our hormones should make us pause before jumping in.
There’s not a mountain of research on 10A-Isopregnenone, but some clues keep coming up. A few folks say they get headaches if they take too much. Others talk about trouble sleeping after a late dose. These sound like small potatoes, unless you live the kind of life where you can’t afford an off day. Sleep loss drags down everything else.
Nervousness sometimes crops up, too. Anytime the body’s chemical balance starts shifting, unpredictable things can happen. A small change can feel huge if you already struggle with stress or anxiety. I’ve had my own brushes with supplements that looked gentle on paper but left me keyed up. This can leave folks wishing they’d started with a smaller dose or skipped it altogether.
The main action of 10A-Isopregnenone seems to link to hormone activity. Some people get a mood lift. Others might face mood swings or short tempers, especially if they already swing between emotional highs and lows. Shaking up hormones isn’t something you feel the day you start, either. The impact can sneak up after several weeks, which means it’s easy to miss the connection.
Women who are pregnant, or trying to be, need to step away from this sort of thing. Big shifts in hormones do strange things to developing babies. There’s no reason to risk it, since the safety record is thin. Anyone on birth control pills, thyroid medicine, or antidepressants needs to ask a doctor before even thinking about 10A-Isopregnenone. Medications have a way of tangling with supplements, and not always in ways we want.
I’ve seen people shrug off gut issues as “no big deal” with new supplements. With 10A-Isopregnenone, a handful complain about heartburn, stomach cramps, or nausea. Even if these fade after a while, daily discomfort can turn anyone sour on the idea of long-term use. Any sign of skin rash or swelling means it’s time to walk away fast. Allergies creep up out of nowhere, especially with newer compounds.
If you really think you need something like 10A-Isopregnenone, look for small doses and honest brands. Avoid retailers who dodge questions about purity or testing. The world is full of knockoffs and blends padded with fillers. It’s worth packing some patience and tracking changes over weeks, not just days.
Too many people start new supplements to fix one thing, then end up battling fresh problems. It makes sense to stay open with doctors and watch out for changes. If a side effect shows up, ask yourself if the promised benefits outweigh the trouble it brings. Stepping back can be a sign of wisdom, not defeat.
Anyone working with 10A-Isopregnenone knows it’s not your run-of-the-mill compound. This isn’t flour or sugar you can stash in the pantry and forget. I remember early in my career, I watched promising batches degrade just because someone tossed them on a shelf near a coffee pot. Learning storage lessons the hard way sticks with you.
Overheated storerooms never do pharmaceuticals any favors. A lot of people don’t realize how subtle temperature creep can slowly eat away at the quality of chemicals. I’ve lost count of the number of warnings I’ve heard about steroidal intermediates softening or getting tacky because the A/C kicked off during a long weekend.
10A-Isopregnenone prefers a cool, stable climate. The benchmark for compounds like this hovers around 2–8°C – that’s refrigerator territory. Stick it in a regular fridge that doesn’t sweat or cycle through wild temperature swings. I once ran inventory in a place where the “cool room” doubled as a break room. Big mistake. Lunch breaks let warm air in, and nobody noticed until a handful of samples yellowed and crumbled.
Direct sunlight turns a batch of 10A-Isopregnenone into something very different from what you ordered. It might seem harmless leaving a vial on a bench under the window, but after a week that stuff starts looking cloudy. Light exposure isn’t just about visible change. It messes with the molecular structure—tiny changes, big effects by the time you need it.
I use amber vials and tuck them into a dark drawer or light-blocking cabinet. Clear bags and see-through jars might look tidy on a shelf, but that’s just inviting trouble. If I spot anyone leaving lids cracked “for airflow,” I remind them: oxygen hates stable compounds. Sealing up tight cuts down oxidation, so I reach for screw-top bottles with solid seals, or screw-cap glass jars if something more heavy-duty is called for.
Humidity rarely gets the respect it deserves as a destroyer of compounds. I’ve watched a perfectly dry powder turn clumpy and nearly useless after a couple damp spring days. Labeling might peel, and the chemical profile can drift—you can’t see it happen, but a loss in potency always makes itself known at the wrong time.
Desiccant packs aren’t high-tech, but they do the job. A jar of 10A-Isopregnenone with a proper desiccant keeps the contents from soaking up stray moisture every time the lid comes off. I recommend checking desiccant color regularly, tossing out those that have turned from blue to pink or whatever the indicator dye signals.
A sloppy storeroom is a silent threat. I once had a coworker grab the wrong batch because the vials were crowded and labels fell off from condensation. Strong, water-resistant labels and clear categorization save more time—and prevent more mistakes—than any software tracking system. I always suggest mapping out a studious storage plan, logging lot numbers and keeping fresh gloves handy to avoid cross-contamination.
Safe storage for 10A-Isopregnenone starts with a cool, dry, dark spot using reliable containers and desiccants. This isn’t just about following protocol; it’s about respecting the time and resources poured into making that compound. Anyone who’s lost a rare batch to carelessness knows you don’t dabble with proper storage—you commit to it every time.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | (1S,2R,10R,11S,14S,15S)-2,15-dimethyl-5-oxotetracyclo[8.7.0.0^{2,7}.0^{11,15}]heptadecan-14-yl acetate |
| Other names |
Allopregnanedione 10α-Isopregnanedione 5β-Pregnane-3,10,20-trione |
| Pronunciation | /ˌtɛn.eɪ.aɪˌaɪ.səʊ.preɡˈniː.nəʊn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 546-89-4 |
| Beilstein Reference | 2878735 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:28664 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL429685 |
| ChemSpider | 53457342 |
| DrugBank | DB01709 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.088.530 |
| EC Number | 3.1.3.32 |
| Gmelin Reference | 52758 |
| KEGG | C15662 |
| MeSH | D017581 |
| PubChem CID | 12311824 |
| RTECS number | GF8360000 |
| UNII | 5B45D1NH4H |
| UN number | UN3272 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C21H30O2 |
| Molar mass | 314.477 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |
| Odor | musky |
| Density | 1.07 g/cm3 |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble in water |
| log P | 2.78 |
| Vapor pressure | 1.18E-06 mmHg |
| Acidity (pKa) | 18.61 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 6.74 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -6.2×10⁻⁶ |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.5700 |
| Dipole moment | 5.5212 Debye |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 322.7 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -386.6 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -6376 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | `G03BA03` |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | May be harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Causes eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | `InChI=1S/C21H30O2/c1-13-5-6-14-12-20(23)10-8-17(14)21(13,24)9-7-15-11-16(22)3-2-4-18(15)19(13)14/h3-4,13-15,17,19,24H,2,5-12H2,1H3` |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H315: Causes skin irritation. H319: Causes serious eye irritation. H335: May cause respiratory irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | Precautionary statements: P261, P264, P271, P272, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362+P364, P501 |
| Flash point | 113.8 °C |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): >5000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| REL (Recommended) | 10 mg |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Pregnenolone Progesterone 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone Cortisone Corticosterone |
