Microbiological hydroxylation of norethisterone.

Hydroxylation of norethisterone by a large number of fungi has been investigated. 1alpha-Hydroxy-, 6beta-hydroxy-, 10beta-hydroxy-, 10beta,11beta-dihydroxy-15alpha-and 15beta-hydroxy-derivatives were formed from norethisterone. The microbiological dehydrogenation of 10beta-hydroxy-norethisterone resulting in 10beta,17beta-dihydroxy-17-ethynyl-1,4-estradien-3-one was also observed. The structure of transformation products was established by chemical and spectroscopical methods.