Participation of the 19-substituent in the conversion of 19-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione into the corresponding 4,5-diosphenol

Abstract

The synthesis of 4,19-dihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione from 19-hydroxy-4β,5-epoxy-5β-androstane-3,17-dione and from 4β,5,19-trihydroxy-5β-androstane-3,17-dione is described. Under various reaction conditions other products are obtained as a result of participation of the 19-hydroxy group to form cyclic ethers. The formation of two of these products, 4α,5-isopropylidene-3α-hydroxy-3β,19-epoxy-5α-androstan-17-one and 4α-hydroxy-4β,19-epoxy-5α-androstane-3,17-dione, can be avoided by treatment of the aforementioned trihydroxy dione with acetic acid in the presence of HCl.