STEROIDS. LXV.¹ A SYNTHESIS OF ANDROSTERONE

Abstract

Comparatively large quantities of androsterone (lib) were required in these Laboratories for biological studies, and for this reason we became interested in developing a more efficient synthesis of lib than those hitherto reported (1). In the present paper we describe such a synthesis, which employs epiandrosterone (androstan-3jS-ol-17-one) (la) [easily obtained by catalytic hydrogenation (2) of the available A6-androsten-3/3-ol-l7-one acetate] as starting material and proceeds in co. 60 % over-all yield.

The Mechanism of the Bacterial C-1,2 Dehydrogenation of Steroids. III. Kinetics and Isotope Effects*

“…2/3-Deuterio-5a-androstane-3,17-dione. 2a,3a-Oxido-5a-androstan-17-one (125 mg) (Iriarte et al, 1955), lithium aluminum deuteride (245 mg), and anhydrous ether (20 ml) were heated under reflux for 4.5 days. The reaction was terminated by the dropwise addition of saturated sodium sulfate solution followed by the addition of solid sodium sulfate.…”