Cyclopropano-steroids

Abstract

The modified Wolff–Kishner reduction of 2-methylene- and substituted 2-methylene-Δ⁴-3-oxo-steroids in the 19-methyl and 19-nor series has been used to prepare 2α,3α-cyclopropano-steroids. The products obtained have been correlated with those resulting from the reaction of 1α-hydroxy-2-enes with methylene iodide/zinc–copper complex and of 1-oxo-2-enes with dimethylsulphoxonium methylide. The latter reagent has also been used to prepare some spirocyclopropano-steroids.