Synthesis of 18-hydroxy-19-norcorticosterone and 18-deoxy-19-noraldosterone. Structure determination of related 19-nor steroids by means of 2-D 1H nmr

The compounds named in the title have been synthesized from the di-(ethylene ketal) of 21-hydroxy-3,20-dioxo-19-norpregn-5-ene-18, 11 beta-lactone and its 5(10)-ene isomer. Reduction of this mixture 1 with sodium aluminum bis-(methoxyethoxy)hydride furnished the 11 beta, 18, 21-triol 2a. Conversion to the 18,21-diacetate 2b, followed by deketalization to the free dione 3 and hydrolysis, afforded 18-hydroxy-19-norcorticosterone 4a which, in the solid state and probably in solution, has the 18,20-hemiacetal structure. Periodate oxidation of 4a gave 11 beta-hydroxy-3-oxo-19-norandrost-4-ene-17 beta, 18-carbolactone 5a, and acid treatment of 4a or its precursor 2a yielded 18-deoxy-19-noraldosterone 6a. The structure of 5a was confirmed by mass spectrometry and 1H nmr, and compared with that of its C-19 methyl homolog 5b and 19-noraldosterone-gamma-etiolactone 8. In particular, 2-D nmr COSY 45 experiments, affording full 1H line assignments, have rigorously established the "natural" beta (axial) configuration of the C-10 hydrogen in the 19-nor lactones 5a and 8, and therefore also in the related 4a, 6a and 19-noraldosterone 7.     

Synthesis of some epoxy and/or N-oxy 17-picolyl and 17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene derivatives and evaluation of their biological activity

Steroidal epoxy and/or N-oxy 17-picolyl and 17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene derivatives have been prepared using 3beta,17beta-dihydroxy-17alpha-picolyl-androst-5-ene (1), 3beta-acetoxy-17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene (2), and 3beta-hydroxy-17-picolinylidene-androst-5-ene (3) as synthetic precursors. The compounds 2 and/or 3 were reacted with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA). The compounds synthesized from 2 were 17-picolinylidene-N-oxide 4, 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy and 5beta,6beta-epoxy-17-picolinylidene-N-oxide 5 and 6, and 5alpha,6alpha:17alpha,20alpha- and 5beta,6beta:17alpha,20alpha-diepoxy-N-oxide 7 and 8. Starting from compound 3, a mixture of 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy and 5beta,6beta-epoxy-17-picolinylidene 9 and 10, 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy and 5beta,6beta-epoxy-17-picolinylidene-N-oxide 11 and 12, and 5alpha,6alpha:17alpha,20alpha- and 5beta,6beta:17alpha,20alpha-diepoxy-N-oxide 13 and 14 were obtained. From compounds 15 and 18, obtained from 1 and 3 by the Oppenauer oxidation, the 4alpha,5alpha-epoxy and 4beta,5beta-epoxy derivatives 16, 17 and 20, 21 were prepared by oxidation with 30% H(2)O(2). Oxidation of 18 with MCPBA yielded only the N-oxide 19. The structures of compounds 15 and 18 were proved by the X-ray analysis. Compounds 1-6, 9, 15, 17, 18, and 21 were tested on activity against the enzyme aromatase. Antitumor activity against three tumor cell lines (human breast adenocarcinoma ER+, MCF-7, human breast adenocarcinoma ER-, MDA-MB-231, and prostate cancer PC3) was evaluated. Three tested compounds (1, 4, and 19) showed strong activity against PC3, the IC(50) values being in the range 0.55-10microM, whereas compound 17 showed strong activity against MDA-MB-231 (IC(50) 10.4microM).     

Synthesis of 19-hydroxyaldosterone and the 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene analog of aldosterone, active mineralocorticoids

19-Hydroxyaldosterone (20) and the 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene analog of aldosterone (HAA) (8) were synthesized from 21-acetoxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dion-20-ethylene ketal-18, 11 beta-lactone (2) as follows: the double bond was transposed from the 4,5 to the 5,6-position by enol acetylation to 3, followed by sodium borohydride reduction. Further reduction of the resulting lactone 4a with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH) furnished the 20-ketal of HAA 6, from which free HAA (8) and the 18,21-anhydro compound 7 were obtained by acid treatment. The [1H]NMR spectrum of 8 in CDCl3 showed it to be a mixture of two isomeric forms. Correlation with the known aldosterone-gamma-etiolactone (10) was established by periodate oxidation of HAA to the corresponding etiolactone 9 followed by chromic acid oxidation. The preparation of 20 was next effected in the following manner: the diacetate 4b was converted into the 6 beta, 19-oxido compound 13b by addition of hypobromous acid followed by the hypoiodite reaction of the bromohydrin 11. Mild saponification of 13b lead to the corresponding diol 13a, and was followed by selective oxidation to the 3-one 14, readily dehydrobrominated to 15a. Reductive ring opening furnished a mixture of the 19,21-diol 16a and its 5-ene isomer 16b, which was directly converted to the diketal 17. Reduction with DIBAH gave the hemiacetal 18, and hydrolysis of the latter 19-hydroxyaldosterone (20) as a water-soluble solid, accompanied by the 18,21-anhydro compound 19. 19-Hydroxyaldosterone exists in CHCl3 and water as a mixture of mainly two isomers. Periodate oxidation furnished the etiolactone 21. Preliminary results indicate that HAA and 19-hydroxyaldosterone are active mineralocorticoids in the Kagawa bioassay and short-circuit current measurements.     

Preparation of 3 beta, 5 alpha-, 3 alpha, 5 alpha- and 3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydro derivatives of 19-noraldosterone by chemical synthesis and microbial bioconversion

The 3 beta, 5 alpha-, 3 alpha, 5 alpha- and 3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydro derivatives 19, 20 and 27 of 19-noraldosterone (1) were prepared to facilitate the search for these compounds in urine. The diketal 4, consisting of a 2:1 mixture of the 5,6- and 5(10)-ene isomers, was hydrogenated with Pd-C and partially hydrolyzed to 5 alpha, 10 alpha- and 5 alpha, 10 beta-dihydroketals 8 and 10 in a 1:2.5 ratio. Assignment of protons was done with aid of COSY 45 experiments. Compound 10 was reduced with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH) to 4 products: the 3 alpha- and 3 beta-ol hemiacetals 16 and 15, and the corresponding tetraols 14 and 13. Alternatively, hydrogenation of the 4-en-3-one 2 gave 10, its 5 beta, 10 beta-isomer 21 and the tetrahydro compound 22, in a 4:2:1 ratio. A better way to prepare the 5 beta, 10 beta-series involved microbial conversion of 2 with Clostridium paraputrificum, and the resulting tetrahydrolactone 23 was reduced with DIBAH to the hemiacetal 24. Acid hydrolysis of 16, 15 and 24 afforded 20, 19 and 27, respectively. According to [1H]-NMR, in solution 20 and 24 exist as mixtures of isomers, while 19 appears in one form only. Periodate oxidation converted 19 and 27 into their gamma-etiolactones 18 and 28. EI MS base peaks are different and characteristic for 19, 20 and 27.     

Synthesis of 4,19-disubstituted derivatives of DOC. Radioreceptor assay of some corticosteroid derivatives in human mononuclear leukocytes

Several new 4,19-substituted steroids and previously synthesized corticosteroids were assayed for affinity to type 1 receptors in human mononuclear leukocytes. 11 beta,19-epoxy-4,21-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (2) was hydrogenated with Pd-C to yield a mixture of all four dihydro derivatives 5, accompanied by 4,21-diacetoxy-11 beta,19-epoxy-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (6) and 21-acetoxy-11 beta,19-epoxy-4-hydroxypregnane-3,20-dione (7). With hot acetic + p-toluenesulfonic acid 5 underwent rearrangement to 21-acetoxy-11 beta,19-epoxypregn-5-ene-4,20-dione (8) Pd-C hydrogenation of 3,21-diacetoxy-5 beta,19-cyclopregna-2,9(11)-diene-4,20-dione (10) gave 3,21-diacetoxy-5 beta,19-cyclopregn-5-ene-4,20-dione (11) and the 9,11-dihydro derivative of the latter. Treatment of 10 with warm HCl furnished 19-chloro-4,21-dihydroxypregna-4,9(11)-diene-3,20-dione (13). Pd-C hydrogenation of its diacetate 14 afforded the 4,5-dihydro derivative 18, 19-chloro-21-acetoxypregn-9(11)-en-20-one (15), its 4-acetoxy derivative 16 and the 3,4-diacetoxy derivative 17. When tested in a radioreceptor assay in human mononuclear leukocytes the synthesized compounds showed only low relative binding affinities (RBA) to type 1 receptor, the highest being 0.72% for 13 (aldosterone = 100%). For comparison, other RBA in this system were: 19-noraldosterone, 20%; 18-deoxyaldosterone, 5.8%; 18-deoxy-19-noraldosterone, 4.7%; 18,21-anhydroaldosterone, 0.37%; 17-isoaldosterone, 7.6% and apoaldosterone, 4.3%     

Synthesis of 18,19-dihydroxycorticosterone

A four-step synthesis of 18,19-dihydroxycorticosterone 5c, starting with 19,21-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxopregn-5-ene-18,11 beta-lactone-di-(ethylene ketal) 2, is presented. Reduction of 2 with sodium aluminum bis-(methoxyethoxy)hydride gave 11 beta,18,19,21-tetrahydroxy-pregn-5-ene-3,20-dione-di-(ethylene ketal) 3a. Acetylation furnished the corresponding 18,19,21-triacetate 3b, which on treatment with a mixture of perchloric and acetic acids gave 18,19-dihydroxycorticosterone 18,19,21-triacetate 4b. Mild saponification yielded the title compound which, on the basis of ir and nmr spectra, exists as one C-20 isomer of the hemiacetal structure 5c. Periodate oxidation of 5c gave the expected 11 beta, 19-dihydroxy-3-oxoandrost-4-ene-17 beta, 18-carbolactone 6b.     

Stereospecific 1,4-addition to an alpha,beta-unsaturated steroidal epoxide: syntheses of new 15-oxygenated sterols

3 beta-Benzoyloxy-14 alpha,15 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-cholest-7-ene (1) is a key intermediate in the synthesis of C-7 and C-15 oxygenated sterols. Treatment of 1 with benzoyl chloride resulted in the formation of 3 beta,15 alpha-bis-benzoyloxy-7 alpha-chloro-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene (2). Reaction of 2 with LiAlH4 or LiAlD4 resulted in the formation of 5 alpha-cholest-7-ene-3 beta,15 alpha-diol (3a) or [14 alpha-2H]5 alpha-cholest-7-ene-3 beta,15 alpha-diol (3b). Diol 3b was selectively oxidized by Ag2CO3/celite to [14 alpha-2H]5 alpha-cholest-7-en-15 alpha-ol-3-one (4). Treatment of 1 with MeMgI/CuI gave 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,15 alpha-diol (5). Selective oxidation of 5 with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC)/pyridine or oxidation with PCC resulted in the formation of 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol-15-one (6) and 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3,15-dione, respectively. Reduction of 6 with LiAlH4 yielded 5 and 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,15 beta-diol (6). Reaction of 1 with benzoic acid/pyridine gave 3 beta,7 alpha-bis-benzoyloxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15 alpha-ol (9). Treatment of 9 with LiAlH4 or ethanolic KOH resulted in the formation of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,7 alpha,15 alpha-triol (10). Dibenzoate 9, upon brief treatment with mineral acid, gave 3 beta-benzoyloxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-15-one (11). Oxidation of 9 with PCC yielded 3 beta,7 alpha-bis-benzoyloxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-15-one (12). Ketone 12 was also prepared by the selective hydride reduction of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-7 alpha-ol-3,15-dione (13) to give 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,7 alpha-diol-15-one (14), which was then treated with benzoyl chloride to produce 12.     

18,21-Anhydroaldosterone and derivatives

18,21-Anhydroaldosterone 8, 18,21-anhydro-19-noraldosterone 9, and 3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydro-18,21-anhydro-19-noraldosterone 13, which may be present in acid-processed urine, were prepared by cleaving their 20-ketal derivatives 2, 3, and 12 with hot mineral acid. Compounds 8 and 9 were also made by direct dehydration of aldosterone 5 and 19-noraldosterone 10 in good yield. The reverse ring opening of 8 to 5 could be carried out in moderate yield with an acetic acid-acetic anhydride-perchloric acid mixture, while an analogous ring opening of 9 gave only a poor yield of 10.     

19-Noraldosterone in pregnancy-induced hypertension

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a frequent cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. 19-Noraldosterone, which was shown to be synthesized in the human adrenal gland, exhibits potent mineralocorticoid and hypertensive activity. To examine the role of mineralocorticoids in the pathophysiology of PIH, we studied urinary 19-noraldosterone, tetrahydroaldosterone, free cortisol, and cortisone concentrations and mineralocorticoid receptor levels in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, from 17 women with PIH and 16 normal pregnant women as controls. Sequence analysis of the mineralocorticoid receptor gene in PIH patients was also done. The 24-h urinary excretion of 19-noraldosterone was significantly lower in PIH (120 +/- 38 pmol/day) than in controls (358 +/- 55 pmol/day) (P < 0.05). Urinary tetrahydroaldosterone was also decreased in PIH compared with controls. Ratios of urinary free cortisol to cortisone (a measure of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 activity) did not differ significantly between groups. Mineralocorticoid receptor density was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the PIH group (133 +/- 15 binding sites/cell) compared with controls (255 +/- 21 binding sites/cell). No mutations were found in the coding region of the mineralocorticoid receptor gene in PIH. These results suggest that circulating aldosterone, 19-noraldosterone, and renal 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase2 do not contribute to the pathogenesis of PIH. Regulatory factors that cause the down-regulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor in PIH should be clarified.     

The microbiological transformation of 7alpha-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene derivatives by Gibberella fujikuroi

The biotransformation of 7alpha-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene (epi-candol A) by the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi gave 7alpha,16alpha,17-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene and a seco-ring B derivative, fujenoic acid, whilst the incubation of candicandiol (7alpha,18-dihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene) and canditriol (7alpha,15alpha,18-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene) afforded 7alpha,18,19-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene and 7alpha,11beta,15alpha,18-tetrahydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, respectively. The presence of a 7alpha-hydroxyl group in epi-candol A avoids its biotransformation along the biosynthetic pathway of gibberellins, and directs it to the seco-ring B acids route. The 15alpha-hydroxyl group in canditriol inhibits oxidation at C-19 and direct hydroxylation at C-11(beta). The formation of fujenoic acid, from 7alpha-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-ene, probably occurs via 7alpha-hydroxykaurenoic acid and 7-oxokaurenoic acid, with subsequent hydroxylation at the C-6(beta) position.     

The biotransformation of 18-hydroxy-9-epi-ent-pimara-7,15-diene by Gibberella fujikuroi

Incubation of 18-hydroxy-9-epi-ent-pimara-7,15-diene with the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi gave the compounds 18-hydroxy-7 alpha,8 alpha-epoxy-9-epi-ent-pimara-15-ene, 18-hydroxy-7-oxo-ent-pimara-15-ene, 6 beta, 18-dihydroxy-7 alpha, 8 alpha-epoxy-9-epi-ent-pimara-15-ene, 9 beta,18-dihydroxy-7 alpha, 8 alpha-epoxy-ent-pimara-15-ene and 6 beta, 14 alpha, 18-trihydroxy-9-epi-ent-pimara-7,15-diene. Oxidation of C-19, which is characteristic of the biosynthesis pathway of the gibberellins is not produced.     

Sesqui- and diterpenes from the liverwort Gackstroemia decipiens

Six rosanes, 5 beta,11 beta-dihydroxy-ros-15-ene, 5 beta,12 beta-dihydroxy-ros-15-ene, 11 beta-hydroxy-7-oxo-rosa-5,15-diene, 1 alpha,5 beta,11 beta-trihydroxy-7-oxo-ros-15-ene, 5 beta,20-epoxy-20-hydroxy-ros-15-ene and 5 beta,20-epoxy-20-methoxy-ros-15-ene along with the enantiomer of the already reported 11 beta-hydroxy-rosa-5,15-diene and the known 5 beta-hydroxy-ros-15-ene have been isolated from the liverwort Gackstroemia decipiens. Furthermore, the sesquiterpenes 3-acetoxy-7,11-dihydroxy-farnesa-1,5,9-triene and 1 beta,10 beta-epoxy-nardosin-7,11-diene were identified. Their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy.     

Chemical constituents of Euphorbia marschalliana Boiss

Acetone extract of aerial parts of Euphorbia marschalliana collected from Iran has been subjected to different chromatography techniques for fractionation and purification. The stereo-structures of the myrsinol esters 15-O-acetyl-3-O-propionyl-5-O-butanoyl-7-O-nicotinoylmyrsinol (1) and 15-O-acetyl-3,5-O-dibutanoyl-7-O-nicotinoylmyrsinol (2) have been probed using ROESY spectroscopy and modified for the stereochemistry at C-6, C-12 and C-13. Beta-sitosterol (3), 29-norcycloart-5-ene (4), 5,8-lanostadiene-3beta-ol (5), 3beta,24(S),25-trihydroxycycloartane (6), 3beta,24(R),25-trihydroxycycloartane (7) and 24-methylenecycloartan-3beta-ol (8) were identified for the first time in this plant.     

Cytotoxic derivatives of (22R,23R)-22,23-dihydroxystigmastane

(22R,23R)-22,23-dihydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one, (22R,23R)-22,23-dihydroxystigmast-4-en-3,6-dione, (22R,23R)-3beta,5alpha,6beta,22,23-pentahydroxystigmastane, (22R,23R)-5alpha,6alpha-oxido-3beta,22,23-trihydroxystigmastane, (22R,23R)-5beta,6beta-oxido-3beta,22,23-trihydroxystigmastane, and (22R,23R)-3beta,6beta,22,23-tetrahydroxystigmast-4-ene were synthesized. Their cytotoxicities were comparatively studied using the MCF-7 line of carcinoma cells of human mammary gland and cells of human hepatoma of the Hep G2 line.     

Microbiological transformation of two labdane diterpenes, the main constituents of Madia species, by two fungi

Microbial transformation of 13R,14R,15-trihydroxylabd-7-ene (5) and 13R,14R,15-trihydroxylabd-8(17)-ene (6) by the fungus Debaryomyces hansenii gave 1 (13R,14R,15-trihydroxy-6-oxolabd-8-ene) and 3 (7alpha,13R,14R,15-tetrahydroxy-labd-8(17)-ene), respectively. While, microbial transformation of 5 by Aspergillus niger afforded 2 (3beta,13R,14R,15-tetrahydroxy-labd-7-ene), and 13R,14R,15-trihydroxylabd-8,17-ene (6) gave 3 and 4 (3R,14R,15-3-oxotetrahydroxy-labd-7-ene). The structures of the new compounds, 1 and 2, were assigned by 1D and 2D high-field NMR spectroscopic methods. Antimicrobial activity of these compounds were tested and their MIC were determined.     

Crystal structure of 3 beta-benzoyloxy-6 alpha-chloro-5 alpha-cholest-7-ene, a key intermediate in the chemical synthesis of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol-15-one

The X-ray crystal structure of 3 beta-benzoyloxy-6 alpha-chloro-5 alpha-cholest-7-ene (IV) was determined by the heavy atom method and refined to R = 0.063 (space group P21, a = 11.364, b = 11.089, c = 12.232, beta = 99.43 degrees, Z = 2). IV was previously shown to be an important intermediate in the acid-catalyzed isomerization of 7-dehydrocholesteryl benzoate. The present work unequivocally establishes the location of the double bond and the configuration of the chlorine of IV, information which is essential to the correct formulation of the mechanism of this reaction.     

Biotransformation XLVII: transformations of 5-ene steroids in Fusarium culmorum culture

The course of the transformation of six 5-ene steroids with varying substituents at C-17 or/and C-3: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 5-androsten-3beta,17beta-diol, 17alpha-methyl-5-androsten-3beta,17beta-diol, 5-androsten-17-one, 5-androsten-3beta-ol and pregnenolone by Fusarium culmorum was investigated. Three substrates with oxygen functions at C-3 and C-17 i.e. DHEA, 5-androsten-3beta,17beta-diol and 17alpha-methyl-5-androsten-3beta,17beta-diol were hydroxylated entirely at 7alpha-axial, allylic position. The mixture of 7alpha-hydroxy- and 7alpha,15alpha-dihydroxyderivatives was formed during the transformation of pregnenolone and 5-androsten-17-one, from the latter 2alpha,7alpha-dihydroxyderivative was also obtained. 7alpha,15alpha- Dihydroxyderivative was the only product isolated from the 5-androsten-3beta-ol post-transformation mixture. The time-course of the DHEA transformation by F. culmorum shows that the substrate induces 7alpha-hydroxylase activity. DHEA was transformed by androstenedione induced F. culmorum cultures to a larger extent than by a noninduced microorganism; the selectivity of the transformation remained unchanged.     

Biotransformation of 7α-hydroxy- and 7-oxo-ent-atis-16-ene derivatives by the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi

The microbiological transformation of 7α,19-dihydroxy-ent-atis-16-ene by the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi gave 19-hydroxy-7-oxo-ent-atis-16-ene, 13(R),19-dihydroxy-7-oxo-ent-atis-16-ene, 7α,11β,19-trihydroxy-ent-atis-16-ene and 7α,16β,19-trihydroxy-ent-atis-16-ene, while the incubation of 19-hydroxy-7-oxo-ent-atis-16-ene afforded 13(R),19-dihydroxy-7-oxo-ent-atis-16-ene and 16β,17-dihydroxy-7-oxo-ent-atisan-19-al. The biotransformation of 7-oxo-ent-atis-16-en-19-oic acid gave 6β-hydroxy-7-oxo-ent-atis-16-en-19-oic acid, 6β,16β,17-trihydroxy-7-oxo-19-nor-ent-atis-4(18)-ene and 3β,7α-dihydroxy-6-oxo-ent-atis-16-en-19-oic acid.     

X-ray and deuterium labeling studies on the abnormal ring cleavages of a 5 beta-epoxide precursor of formestane

A new convergent synthesis of the antitumor steroid formestane (4-OHA) 5 has been performed from the easily available epimeric mixture of 5 alpha- and 5 beta-androst-3-en-17-one 1a and 1b in order to attempt a yield improvement. A two-step oxidative route followed by base-catalyzed isomerization was applied to the 5 alpha- and 5 beta-epimers 1a and 1b, either as a mixture or separately, leading to the title compound 5. From epimer 1a an efficient process was attained to prepare the desired aromatase inhibitor formestane. Epimer 1b led to the formation of the same compound 5. Additionally, 1b have also been converted in 5 beta-hydroxyandrostane-3,17-dione 12 and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione 13, revealing an unexpected reactivity of the 3 beta,4 beta-epoxy-5 beta-androstan-17-one intermediate 6 formed from 1b during the first oxidative step with performic acid. Cleavage of the epoxide 6 led to the trans-diaxial and the trans-diequatorial vic-diols 7 and 8 and to the 1,3-diol 9. The formation of the abnormal products 8 and 9 were investigated through X-ray and deuterium labeling studies. Diol 8 was formed through a trans-diequatorial epoxide ring opening and the 1,3-diol 9 was formed through an intramolecular rearrangement involving a 1,2-hydride shift. All the vic-diols 3, 7 and 8 formed, proved to be good precursors for the synthesis of the target compound 5.     

Synthesis and pregnancy-inhibiting activity of 7-substituted androst-5-ene derivatives.

Synthesis of 7-aryl/allyl-substituted androstene derivatives 3a through 3g has been carried out by Grignard reaction on 3 beta,17 beta-diacetoxyandrost-5-en-7-one (2) with aryl/allyl magnesium bromide. Isomeric mixture of products 3b and 3c/3e and 3f/3h was separated by column chromatography. Stereochemical assignment at C-7 has been made on the basis of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies and chemical considerations. Compounds 6a and 6b were synthesized by alkylation of compound 5 with beta-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl chloride hydrochloride and 1-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride, respectively. Compound 3g (isomeric mixture) prevented pregnancy in 60% of rats at 10 mg/kg daily dose administered orally on days 1 to 7 of pregnancy; however, its only isolable 7 beta-hydroxy isomer, 3h, was inactive at this dose.