Steroids reactions

D. N. Kirk and M. P. Hartshorn, Steroid Reaction Mechanisms, Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, 1968, Chapter 4. 

J. E. StaiT, Metal Ammonia Reductions of Steroidal Enones, Saturated Ketones, and Ketols in Steroid Reactions, C. Djerassi, ed., Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, 1963, Chapter 7. 

Most steroid reactions of this type have been carried out in proton-donating solvents (see ref. 313 for an exception) and rearrangement is a common occurrence... 

In general, epoxidation of steroids with trans-anti-trans ring fusions leads to exclusive formation of the a-oxirane. Steroid Reactions lists examples of exclusive a-epoxide formation from 2-, 4-, 6-, 7-, 8(9)-, 14-, 16- and 17(20)-unsaturated steroids. Further examples of a-epoxidation of steroid 1-enes, 3-enes, 8-enes, 9(ll)-enes, 8(14)-enes and 16-enes have been reported. The preferred attack by the reagent on the a-side of the steroid nucleus can be attributed to shielding of the -side of the molecules by the two angular methyl groups. 

The forerunner in the Co-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition domino processes was that identified by Vollhardt and colleagues [273], with their excellent synthesis of steroids. Reaction of 6/4-1 with [CpCo(CO)2] gave compound 6/4-3 with an aromatic ring B via the intermediate 6/4-2. In this process, trimerization of the three alkyne moieties first takes place, and this is followed by an electrocyclic ring opening of the formed cyclobutene to give o-quinodimethane. This then undergoes a Diels-Alder reaction to provide the steroid 6/4-3 (Scheme 6/4.1). 

Kirk DN, Hartshorn MP (1968) Solvoltic reactions and rearrangements of steroid derivatives. In Steroid reaction mechanisms. Elsevier, London, p 228... 

Section A Steroid Reactions 1 Alcohols and their Derivatives, Halides, and Epoxides... 

Other Reactions of Olefinic Steroids.—Reaction of cholest-5-en-3-one with air and acetic acid shows that isomerization to the A -3-oxo-compound is accompanied by autoxidation to the 6a- and 6/8-hydroxy-3-oxo-A -compounds and the 3,6-dioxo-A -compound. The oxidation appears to be controlled by heterolysis of the 4/3-proton and formation of the intermediate ion pair (73). Sitosterol was autoxi-dized at C-7 to give the 7-oxo- and the epimeric 7-hydroxy-derivatives. Oxidation of a 17-methylene steroid with Pb, Tl" , and Hg acetates in methanol gave a wide variety of products. The reaction with Pb(OAc)4 gave the rearranged products (74), (75), and (76) whereas the Tl and Hg products retained the... 

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