Selective aromatization of the A ring of steroids through demethylation by an electrophilic ruthenium fragment
Abstract
The reaction of ‘(C5Me5)Ru+’, produced by the protonation of [(C5Me5)RuOMe]2 by CF3SO3H, with various steroids leads to selective aromatization of the A ring via demethylation of the 19 methyl group and/or dehydration and/or dehydrogenation reactions.