Corticosteroids oxidative cleavage

Selective oxidative cleavage of the corticosteroid side chain sochum bismuthate was used as an analytical technique for the determination of urinary corticosteroids. Sodium bismudiate was chosen since it cleaves a-hydroxy acids readily (unlike periodic acid) and tolerates the water in urine samples (in contrast to LTA). 

Scheme 5.2. Selective oxidative cleavage of corticosteroid side chains with sodium bismuthate [53BJ371].

The outer layer or cortex of the adrenal gland is the source of a large group of sub stances known as corticosteroids Like the bile acids they are derived from cholesterol by oxidation with cleavage of a portion of the alkyl substituent on the D ring Cortisol IS the most abundant of the corticosteroids but cortisone is probably the best known Cortisone is commonly prescribed as an antiinflammatory drug especially m the treat ment of rheumatoid arthritis... 

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