Steroids VOLUME

This second volume, which reviews the alkaloid literature from July 1970 to June 1971, approaches more closely the standard Specialist Periodical Report originally envisaged by the Chemical Society and adopts a form which, with minor variations, will very probably be followed in subsequent volumes. Once again the whole field of alkaloid chemistry has been reviewed, with the exception of the Steroidal Alkaloids of the Solanum and Veratrum Groups. The omission of these groups in the first volume was deliberate their inclusion in the second volume was intended, but proved to be impracticable, and we hope to remedy this omission in the third volume. It is fortunate, however, that this particular area can quite properly be discussed in a volume devoted to alkaloids or in one devoted to steroids and for a brief review of recent developments in this subject the reader is meanwhile referred to the Specialist Periodical Report on Terpenoids and Steroids, Volume One (Senior Reporter Dr. K. H. Overton). 

The previous pohcy of dividing the section into smaller volumes has been continued, resulting in seven volumes for Section II. Two of the volumes each contain a complete area, namely Carbohydrates (Volume 5) and Sterols, Bile Acids and Steroids (Volume 10). Comments from readers will be appreciated bj the Editors and be most helpful for possible future revisions. 

Strategy Problem 6 A labelled compound for biosynthetic studies. Mevaloitic acid (TM 418) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of terpenes and steroids (Tedder, volume 4, p.217 ff). To study exactly what happens to each carbon atom during its transformation into, say, hmonene (418A), we need separate samples of mevalonic acid labelled with in each carbon atom in the molecule. This turns our normal strategy on its head since we must now look for one carbon discoimections. You can use reagents like Na CN, and... 

Although a tremendous number of fermentation processes have been researched and developed to various extents, only a couple of hundred ate used commercially. Fermentation industries have continued to expand in terms of the number of new products on the market, the total volume (capacity), and the total sales value of the products. The early 1990s U.S. market for fermentation products was estimated to be in the 9-10 x 10 range. The total world market is probably three times that figure, and antibiotics continue to comprise a primary share of the industry. Other principal product categories are enzymes, several organic acids, baker s yeast, ethanol (qv), vitamins (qv), and steroid hormones (qv). 

Single dose or short-term treatment with aerosolized steroids inhibits both the late asthmatic response and allergen-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness (45,92). However it does not affect the early asthmatic response nor does it induce bronchodilation (45,92). Long-term treatment with steroids protects against both the early and late asthmatic responses and also reduces bronchial hyperresponsiveness (44,71,86,93). Over time, the airways relax (dilate) and measures of airway function, such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV ), gradually return to almost normal levels. 

Jojoba. Jojoba oil [61789-91-1] is obtained from the seeds of the jojoba plant grown in semiarid regions of Costa Rica, Israel, Mexico, and the United States. The oil is made up of ca 80 wt % of esters of eicos-ll-enoic and docos-13-enoic acids, and eicos-ll- -l-ol, and docos-13- -l-ol, ca 17 wt % of other hquid esters, with the balance being free alcohols, free acids, and steroids. Jojoba oil is used primarily in the formulation of cosmetics. Hydrogenated jojoba oil is a wax used in candles and other low volume specialty apphcations. 

Many aromatic steroids submitted to the Birch reduction contain hydroxyl groups which are deprotonated to the corresponding alkoxides during the reduction, particularly if a tertiary alcohol is used as the proton donoi. The steroidal alkoxides and the one derived from the proton donor often precipitate and cause foaming of the reaction mixture, as was noted by Wilds and Nelson. These alkoxides can be kept in solution by adding an excess of the proton donor alcohol to the mixture the alcohol also assists in dissolving the starting hydroxylic steroid. A particularly useful reaction medium for hydroxylic steroids contains ammonia, tetrahydrofuran and -butyl alcohol in the volume ratio of 2 1 (Procedure 2, section V). This mixture... 

Residual aromatic ether concentrations are determined from the absorbance at 278 mfi of the crude reduction products in methanol solution. Steroidal ether concentrations of 1 mg/ml are employed. The content of 1,4-dihydro compound is determined, when possible, by hydrolysis to the a, -unsaturated ketone followed by ultraviolet analysis. A solution of the crude reaction product (usually 0.01 mg/ml cone) in methanol containing about 1/15 its volume of water and concentrated hydrochloric acid respectively is kept at room temperature for 2 to 4 hr. The absorbance at ca. 240 mfi is measured and, from this, the content of 1,4-dihydro compound can be calculated. Longer hydrolysis times do not increase the absorbance at 240 mp.. 

A 8 A solution of chromic acid is prepared by dissolving 26.72 g of chromium trioxide in a mixture of 23 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid and enough water to make the total volume of the solution 100 ml. Rapid dropwise addition of a slight excess of this reagent to an acetone solution (2 % or less) of the hydroxy steroid at room temperature or below with stirring usually results in complete conversion to ketone in less than 10 min. The product is isolated by dilution with water followed by filtration or extraction. 

It is hoped that these volumes will be useful not only to the chemist who wishes to carry out synthesis in the steroid field, but also to the broader group of organic chemists who are interested in carrying out selective and stereo-chemically defined reactions, as well as protective chemistry on extraneous functional groups, during a broad range of synthetic applications. The chapter on the introduction of deuterium and by inference tritium into steroids was included because of the importance of this technique in mechanistic and metabolic studies both in the steroid and nonsteroid field. 

Although crude cyanoamidine (10) can be used for many reactions, reduction to the 2-formyl-A-norsteroid (11) is most satisfactory when purified material is employed. The crude cyanoamidine is stirred for about 15 min with boiling toluene (120 ml/g of steroid) to effect dissolution, the hot solution is filtered quickly through fluted paper, and the filtrate is cooled and diluted with an equal volume of petroleum ether. The mixture is cooled for 0.5 hr in ice, affording from 25 g of crude material about 18 g of colorless 2a-(A-pyrrolidinylcyanoiminomethyl)-A-nor-5a-androstan-17 -ol (10) mp 252-255° (anal, sample mp 262-263°, from benzene-hexane 250 m ... 

The combined acetone extracts were extracted six times with one-fourth volume of ethylene dichloride and the ethylene dichloride extract was evaporated under vacuum to leave the steroid residue. This steroid residue was taken up in a minimum of methylene chloride and applied to the top of a column packed with 30 grams of silica which had been previously triturated with 21 ml of ethylene glycol. Then various developing mixtures, saturated with ethylene glycol, were passed over the column. Cuts were made as each steroid was eluted as determined by the lowering of the absorption of light at 240 mp on the automatic chromatographic fraction cutter. 

Table 9.2 Compounds used to inhibit steroid ring degradation (based on Martin CKA Sterols in Biotechnology Volume 6a Edited by Kieslich K 1984. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim).

In cases of severe acute asthmatic attacks, bronchodilators and steroids for direct dehveiy to the lungs may be needed in large doses. This is achieved by direct inhalation via a nebulizer device this converts a liquid into a mist or fine spray. The dmg is diluted in small volumes of Water for Injections BP before loading into the reservoir of the machine. This vehicle must be sterile and preservative-fiee and is therefore prepared as a terminally sterilized unit dose in polyethylene nebules. 

In addition to the challenges cited above, there are some special issues associated with steroid chemistry that should be noted. The steroidal impurities formed in the process are generally similar in structure to the desired product and, in some cases, co-crystallization with the product is a problem. It is, therefore, critical to limit the formation of steroidal impurities in the reactions. The structural similarity between product and impurities also creates challenges in developing assays for reaction monitoring and purity determination. Furthermore, the poor solubility of these compounds in the solvents typically used in a manufacturing process makes it very difficult to achieve practical volume productivity in process development. 

Finasteride has been clinically proved to reduce the median volume of the prostate in patients and is currently prescribed for the treatment of BPH. The compound also has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of male pattern baldness and is prescribed for this indication as well. Subsequent to the discovery of finasteride, it was found that there are two isoforms of steroid 5a-reductase in mammals, type 1 and type 2. The type 2 isoform is primarily active in reproductive tissue, while the type 1 isoform contributes to DHT formation in the skin, liver, and reproductive tissue. Finasteride inhibits both isozymes in rats, but selectively inhibits the type 2 isozyme only in humans. It is hypothesized that dual inhibition of both isoforms of steroid 5a-reductase might prove more effective in treating BPH. Hence the GlaxoSmithKline group identified and developed dutasteride (Figure 8.18C). Dutasteride inactivates both human isoforms of steroid 5a-reductase by a mechanism similar to that described for finasteride (Bramson et al., 1997 see also the Web site www.avodart.com). Both finasteride and dutasteride have demonstrated clinical efficacy and are currently used in the treatment of BPH. 

Volume XV. Steroids and Terpenoids Edited by Raymond B. Clayton... 

Volume XXXVI. Hormone Action (Part A Steroid Hormones)... 

Van Eldere J, Robben J, Caenepeel PH, Eys-sen H Influence of a cecal volume-reducing intestinal microflora on the excretion and en-tero-hepatic circulation of steroids and bile acids. J Steroid Biochem 1988 29 33-39. 

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