Base-catalysed epoxidation and reduction of 3-formyl-A-norandrost-3(5)-en-17-one
Abstract
The base-catalysed epoxidation of 3-formyl-A-norandrost-3(5)-en-17-one has been shown by X-ray analysis to afford the β-epoxide. Catalytic reduction gave predominantly the 3-methyl-A-norandrost-3(5)-en-17-one whilst reduction with sodium borohydride gave the product of 1,2- rather than conjugate addition.