Studies of the synthesis of 5-hydroxy 6-keto steroids and related 6-keto steroids

Abstract

Syntheses of 5-hydroxy-5α- and 5β-cholestan-6-one (11 and 13) and their 3β-acetoxy (10 and 21) and 3β-benzyloxy derivatives (12 and 19) are described, as are syntheses of the 7α-deutero derivatives of 10 and 21. Related investigations of the syntheses of the 5-methoxy and 5-methyl analogues of these compounds are also discussed. Treatment of 12 with potassium tert-butoxide has been shown to give 5-hydroxy-5β-cholest-3-en-6-one (14) and its Δ2 isomer 15. Reaction of 6-nitrocholesteryl acetate (50) with lithium dimethylcuprate gives 3α,5-cyclo-5α-cholestan-6-one (E)-oxime (51) as the major product.