18-Norandrosta-8,11,13-trienes. Part IV. 7-Hydroxy-derivatives
Abstract
Direct dehydrogenation of 18-norandrost-13-enes (1a and b) with selenium dioxide gave the corresponding 7α-hydroxy-18-norandrosta-8,11,13-trienes (2a and b) in one step. The corresponding 7α-acetates (2c and d) were obtained together with the epimeric 7β-acetates (9a and b) on treatment of the 18-norandrosta-7,13-dienes (8a and c) with mercury(II) acetate. The mechanisms for both aromatisation processes are discussed.