Electrophilic additions to 10β-vinyl cholestane derivatives

Abstract

Hypobromous acid addition to steroid dienes I-VI proceeds in four steps. The reaction commences by the attack on more reactive endocyclic double bond from the α-side yielding intermediary diaxial bromohydrins XXVIII, XXXIV, XL, XLIV, L and LVI via corresponding α-bromonium ions. The 10β-vinyl group of the bromohydrins then reacts with a second equivalent of the reagent forming transient 19-epimeric bromonium ions. The ions generated from I, II, V and VI are cleaved intramolecularly by the hydroxyl group, in accordance with the Markovnikov rule, giving rise to 19-epimeric dibromo epoxides XXXIa and XXXIIa, XXXVII and XXXVIII, LIIIa and LIVa, LIX and LX. By contrast, the ions generated from III and IV are cleaved in an anti-Markovnikov manner to yield dibromo epoxides XLII, XLVII and XLVIII. Products due to formation of a new C-C bond were not observed. The reaction mechanism and differences in the behaviour of the dienes I-VI are discussed.