Epimerization and rearrangement of des-A-steroid hydroxy-ketones via quinonoid intermediates
Abstract
In aqueous or alcoholic hydrochloric acid the 14α-hydroxy-ketone (1) undergoes epimerization and dehydration to give the 14β-hydroxy-ketone (2) and the 14β-alkoxy-15-ketones (3)–(5), together with the rearranged 17-alkoxy-16-en-15-ones (8) and (9).