Stereospecific reactions bimolecular nucleophilic substitution

The general procedures previously outlined in this section for the formation of the carbon to azide bond have been widely employed in the steroid field, particularly as a stage in the stereospecific synthesis of aminosteroids. Bimolecular nucleophilic displacement reactions of sterols substituted with j -toluenesulphonyl, methanesulphonyl or halogeno groups etc. with azide ion proceeds with Walden Inversion and enables the stereospecific introduction of the azido group, which may then be reduced to an amino group. 

---