Synthesis of 3,4-, 4,5- and 5,6-unsaturated 19-substituted cholestane derivatives and related epoxides

Abstract

Starting from the 5,6-unsaturated compound X, 19-hydroxy-, 19-methoxy and 19-acetoxy derivatives with the double bond in positions 5,6- (XIV-XVI), 4,5- (XXI-XXIII) and 3,4- (XXX, XXXIII, XXXIV) were prepared by stepwise transposition of the 5,6-double bond. The route to 4,5-unsaturated steroids involves hypobromous acid addition (XVI → XVIII) followed by reductive removal of bromine and dehydration (XIX → XXI), Transposition of the 4,5-double bond to the 3,4-position is based on the conversion of the 4,5-olefin into 4β-alcohol (XXIII → XXVII) and pyrolysis of its benzoate (XXVIII → XXX).