ilkenin

Ilkenin is a fictional small organic molecule used in educational contexts to illustrate principles of signaling chemistry and pharmacology. It has no confirmed natural occurrence and is not a real drug or metabolite.

Chemical structure in standards textbooks describes ilkenin as a bicyclic heteroaromatic core, consisting of a fused pyridine-thiazole ring with a carboxamide side chain.

Proposed function: In the fictional scenario, ilkenin acts as a paracrine signaling molecule, binding to a hypothetical receptor ILK-1, a G protein-coupled receptor, and initiating a second messenger cascade such as cAMP or Ca2+ mobilization.

Synthesis: In coursework, ilkenin is prepared by a two-step sequence: formation of the bicyclic core via cyclization of a conveniently substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compound, followed by amide coupling to introduce the carboxamide group. Typical laboratory yields—variable; 35-70% under standard conditions.

Applications and status: Used as a didactic example in organic chemistry and pharmacology, to discuss structure-activity relationships, receptor binding, and signaling paths. Not a real compound; no pharmacology or clinical data apply.