The retro-aldol cleavage of 3β-hydroxypregna-5,17(20)-dien-16-ones: a convenient preparation of 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-16-one
Abstract
Prolonged heating of solutions of 3β-hydroxypregna-5,17(20)-dien-16-ones in aqueous methanol containing sodium hydroxide yields 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-16-one.