A-homo-5a-cholestan-4-one

The position of the keto group of A-homo-5a-cholestan-3-one (5b) was determined by Nelson and Schut by an unambiguous synthesis of ketone (5b) involving bis-homologation of 2,3-seco-5a-cholestane-2,3-dioic acid (8) using the Arndt-Eistert sequence [(9) (11)]. 

In the latter process Dieckmann cyclization of diester (11) using high dilution conditions failed. However, A-homo-5a-cholestan-3-one (5b) identical to the product of diazomethane ring enlargement of (lb) was obtained in 35 % yield when diester (11) was hydrolyzed to the bis-homo diacid and this converted to the thorium salt and pyrolyzed. 

Although at equilibrium the j5,y-tautomer (16a) is preferred, some of the conjugated enone (17) can be obtained by acid-catalyzed equilibration. Hydrogenation of the A-homo-enone (16a) gives a mixture from which A-homo-5a-cholestan-3-one (5b) can be isolated. 

Hecogenin p-toluenesulfonylhydrazone, 402 Hofmann-Loffler reaction, 257 Homoallylic rearrangements, 379 A-homo-5a-cholestan-3-one, 356, 358, 362 A-homo-5a-cholestan-4-one, 359, 360, 368 A-homo-choIest-4a-en-3-one, 366 A-homo-estra-1(10), 2,4a-triene-4,17-dione, 367,370... 

Conflicting reports relating to the products obtained from the Tiffeneau-Demjanov ring-expansion of 5a-cholestan-3-one have appeared. G.Lc. analysis has failed to reveal the presence of the A-homo-3-ketone, although it has been detected by o.r.d. and c.d. measurements. The pure A-homo-4-ketone has now been obtained via solvolysis of the dibromocarbene adduct (309) of 3-methoxy-cholest-2-ene to afford the unsaturated halogenoketone (310) which was then reduced to the 4-one. In a similar manner, 3-acetoxycholest-3-ene afforded the isomeric unsaturated halogenoketone (311) which on reduction produced A-homo-5a-cholestan-3-one. 

A-Homo-5a-cholestan-4-one (3b). A solution of sodium nitrite (2 g) in water (100 ml) is added over 1 hr to a stirred solution of 3-(5 -spiro-2, 2 -dimethyloxazolidinyl)-5a-cholestane (7 4.58 g) in aqueous 10% acetic acid (800 ml), maintained at 0-5° for 3 hr and the mixture is then allowed to stand overnight. The reaction mixture is neutralized with 10% sodium hydroxide solution and the resulting white suspension is extracted with ether. The ether extracts are washed with water, dried and concentrated to give a semisolid residue which is converted to the semicarbazone by warming in methanol solution (ca. 65 ml/g) with an excess of methanolic semicarbazide-acetate solution. The precipitate of semicarbazone is recrystallized from ethanol to give a white powder mp 239-241°. A solution of hydrochloric acid (50 ml) in ethanol (450 ml) is added to the semicarbazone and the mixture is heated at reflux for 1 hr. The clear solution is diluted with water (250 ml) and the... 

Levisalles and co-workers have prepared A-homo-5a-cholestan-4-one by the dibromocarbene procedure starting with 3-methoxy-5a-cholest-2-ene. Wieland and Anner have converted 19-mesyloxy-A -3-keto steroids into... 

In a study of the stereochemistry of the B-homosteroid ring system, Kohout, Fajkos and Sorm prepared 3 -hydroxy-B-homo-5a-cholestan-7-one acetate... 

Hydroxy-B-homo-5a-cholestan-7-one acetate (54b) A solution of 3/3-hydroxy-5a-cholestan-7-one acetate (51b 5 g mp 146-148°) in dioxane-ethanol (100 ml, 1 1) is placed in a 250 ml three-necked flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer and thermometer and is cooled to 0° (iee-salt bath). Powdered potassium cyanide (7.3 g) is added portionwise with stirring. Acetic acid (8 ml) is then added dropwise with constant stirring over 30 min. The resultant mixture is stirred for 1 hr at 0° C and for an additional 2 hr at room temperature. It is then poured into ice water (200 g ice, 100 ml water) and after standing for 1 hr the precipitate is collected by filtration. The product is dissolved in ether (100 ml), the ether solution is washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate, water and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The filtrate is evaporated at reduced pressure and the solid residue (5.1 g) is crystallized from ethyl acetate (30 ml) to yield 2.8 g of cyanohydrin (52b) mp 160-164° repeated crystallization from the same solvent gives a product mp 164-167°. An alternative method of isolation of the cyanohydrin is used when 100 g or larger quantities are worked up. The reaction mixture is poured directly into a mixture of ice water and sodium bicarbonate, the precipitate (mp 155-156°) is washed well with water, dried and used directly for the next step. 

Apparently contradictory results in the Tiffeneau-Demjanov expansion of ring have been only partially clarified from separate study of the epimeric 3-aminomethyl-3-ols (491) derived from 5a-cholestan-3-one, 17j5-hydroxy-5a-androstan-3-one, and the related trans-2-decalyl derivatives. The three reported products, the A-homo-3-one (492), A-homo-4-one (493), and the oxiran (494), are formed in differing proportions (Table 3). The same products arise from reaction between the 3-oxo-steroids and diazomethane it is clear from... 

Tiffeneau-Demjanov ring-expansion of 6jff-acetoxy-5a-cholestan-3-one has been used to prepare the corresponding A-homo-4-ketone methylene insertion with diazomethane led to A-bis- and -tris-homocholestanones as the only isolated products. 

Hydroxy-6-methyl-10 (5 6) abeo-cholestan-5-one acetate, 391 3 a-Hydroxy-16a-methyl-11,20-dioxo-5/3-pregnane-21-glyoxylic acid, 191 17 -Hydroxy-l-niethyl-A-homo-5a-androst-l-en-3-one acetate, 362 17 /3-Hy droxy-5a, 1 Oa-methy lene-A-norestran-3-one, 429 17 3-Hydroxy-17 a-methyl-10 ( 5 4) -fl( < o-estrane-3,5-dione, 314 3a-Hydroxy-16a-methyl-5/3-pregnane-11,20-dione, lyl... 

From 40 kg of rape pollen, 4 mg of an active compound was eventually isolated and shown to be the novel plant growth substance brassinolide (1) (3). The structure, as determined by X-ray crystallography, was [ (2a, 3a, 22R, 23R)-tetrahydroxy- 24 a-methyl-B-homo-7-oxa-5a-cholestane-6-one]. This structure was unique in possessing a 24a-methyl, a 7-oxalactonic B ring, and vicinal hydroxyls on the A ring (C2a and C3a) plus a side chain (C22R and C23R ). 

A-Nor-B-homo steroids with different substitution patterns than those described above may be prepared by acid catalyzed cyclization of 3)3-hydroxy-5(10)-seco-cholest-tra/w-l(l0)-en-5-one acetate (134a) formed in 30-40% yield by mercuric oxide-iodine sensitized irradiation of cholestane-3j3,5a-diol... 

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