Nickel-Catalysed Synthesis of 17-Arylandrosta-5,16-Dienes

Abstract

An efficient Ni-catalysed coupling reaction between arylboronic acids and 17-trifluoromethanesulfonyl- 3β-acetoxyandrosta-5,16-diene which was obtained by the sulfonylation of 3β-acetoxylandrost-5-ene-17-one was developed to afford 17-aryl- 3β-acetoxy-androsta-5,16-dienes in moderate to good yields (52–85%). The structure of the 3,4-dimethoxyaryl product was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.