Epoxides reactions with lithiodithiane

Recently, Jones and Grayshan have reported the reaction of lithiodithiane derivatives with steroidal epoxides to effect preparation of modified steroids. Treatment of 2 ,3a-oxiranyl-5a-cholestane (46) with 2-lithio-l,3-dithiane, followed by desulphurization, yielded the 2j8-methyl-3a-cholestanol 47 (equation 48). Conversely, reaction with the epimeric epoxide 48 furnished 3a-methyl-5a-cholcstan-2j8-ol (49) (equation 49) . 

---