Diarylpropionitrile

Diarylpropionitrile (DPN), also known as 2,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionitrile (2,3-BHPPN), is a synthetic, non-steroidal, and highly selective agonist of ERβ (IC₅₀ = 15 nM) that is used widely in scientific research to study the function of this receptor. It is 70-fold more selective for ERβ over ERα, and has 100-fold lower affinity for GPER (GPR30) relative to estradiol. DPN produces antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in animals via activation of the endogenous oxytocin system.