Benzylic hydroxylation of 11-oxo-oestrones by hydration of quinone methides. A novel demonstration of the presence of a reactive intermediate
Abstract
Oxidation of 3-hydroxy-1-methyloestra-1,3,5-(10)-triene-11,17-dione (1) with dichlorodicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) in aqueous dioxan gives the 9β-hydroxy-derivative (2) by a mechanism involving addition of water to the intermediate quinone methide (4).