Functionalisation of saturated hydrocarbons. Part 7. On the mechanism of the degradation of the cholesterol side-chain to 20-ketone by oxidation with the Gif system

Abstract

The oxidation by the Gif system of the two dienones (3) and (15) which lack a 25-H still affords minor amounts of the 20-ketone (12). This indicates that there are two mechanisms for the degradation of the cholesterol side-chain, the major route as previously proposed and a minor route the nature of which has been briefly discussed.