Steroidal ketones biochemical hydroxylation

The interconversion of alcohols to ketones is a common biochemical reaction. The introduction of hydroxyl groups into toe steroid nucleus and side chain creates a variety of secondary alcohols. Some of these, especially at positions 3, 7, 11 and 17 are frequently oxidised to ketones. 

Methylene groups are hydroxylated to give alcoholic groups. Such hydroxylations are rarely achieved chemically but occur frequently in biochemical processes. The vast majority of such hydroxylations takes place in steroidal ketones and will be discussed in the section on ketones. 

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