Dehydrogenation of steroidal and triterpenoid ketones using benzeneseleninic anhydride
Abstract
Steroid and triterpenoid ketones can be smoothly dehydrogenated in high yield with benzeneseleninic anhydride in chlorobenzene at 95–120 °C. With an excess of benzeneseleninic anhydride and longer reaction times 4,4-dimethyl ketones give ring-A-contracted diketones in moderate yield.