A very short degradation of the bile acid side chain
Abstract
Reaction of the cholanic acid derivative (1) with thionyl chloride and pyridine gave, after quenching with methanol, the α-sulphine ester (3); treatment with acetic anhydride–sulphuric acid afforded the keto ester (5) which, on exposure to air in the presence of copper(II) ions and base, gave the 20-keto pregnane derivative (9) in excellent overall yield.