Abnormal Beckmann fragmentation/ring closing metathesis route for preparation of 18-nor-Delta-androgens and their 18-nor-13,17-epoxide derivatives

The synthesis of 18-nor-Δ¹³⁽¹⁷⁾-androgens and the structurally related 13,17-epoxides is described. The synthetic route involves the cleavage of 17-ketosteroids by an abnormal Beckmann rearrangement, modification of the D-ring cleavage product to obtain an intermediate tricyclic diene and ring closing metathesis of the diene to the 18-nor-Δ¹³⁽¹⁷⁾-androgen. (3α,5α)-18-Norandrost-13(17)-en-3-ol and the derivative 13α,17α- and 13β,17β-epoxides were prepared by this route.     

Oxetane from A-nor-steroides: 2-alpha, 5-oxido-A-nor-5-alpha-cholestane, 2-beta, 5-oxido-A-nor-5-beta-cholestane and 2-alpha-ethyl-2-beta,2'-oxido-A-nor-5-alpha-cholestane

Treatment of 2β-tosyloxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane-5-ol ( 2 ) with t-butoxide in t-butanol gave 2α, 5-epoxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane ( 3 ) in quantitative yield. When A-nor-5β-cholestane-2α, 5-diol ( 4 ) was treated with tosyl chloride in pyridine 2β-chloro-A-nor-5β-cholestane-5-ol ( 7 ) and 2α-tosyloxy-A-nor-5β-cholestane-5-ol ( 8 ) were obtained. Whereas the chloride 7 was resistant to t-butoxide the tosylate 8 was transformed into an 1 : 1 mixture of 2α, 5-epoxy-5β-cholestane ( 10 ) and 2ξ-t-butoxy-A-nor-5β-cholestane-5-ol ( 11 ). In 2α-tosyloxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane-5-ol ( 12 ) substitution occurred as the only reaction. Both oxetanes 3 and 10 isomerize after heating above 50° and in polar or protic solvents to form A-nor-Δ³⁽⁵⁾-cholestene-2α-ol ( 6 ) and -2β-ol ( 14 ) respectively. Also, 2, 5-diols are encountered. 2α-Ethyl-2β, 2′-epoxy-A-nor-5α-cholestane ( 23 ) was synthesized starting from A-nor-5α-cholestane-2-one ( 17 ). The intermediates were the ester 16 , the diol 18 , the hydroxy-tosylate 19 and the chlorhydrin 20 . The spirocyclic oxetane 23 was reduced by LiAlH₄ in dioxane (not in ether). By chromatography on silica gel 23 was isomerized to the homoallylic alcohol 21 and transformed into 2-methylene-A-nor-5α-cholestane ( 24 ) by fragmentation. The IR. and NMR. spectra of the new oxetanes were compared with those of a series of known oxetanes.     

Bismuth(III) triflate-catalyzed rearrangement of 16α,17α-epoxy-20-oxosteroids. Synthesis and structural elucidation of new 16α-substituted 17α-alkyl-17β-methyl-Δ-18-norsteroids

The use of bismuth(III) triflate for the rearrangement of 16α,17α-epoxy-20-oxosteroids is reported. The reactions occur under truly catalytic conditions to afford novel 17α-alkyl-17β-methyl-Δ¹³-18-nor products bearing different O-containing substituents at C16. When the reaction is performed in the absence of acylation agent a mixture of isomeric 16α- and 16β-hydroxy derivatives is obtained, whereas when carried out in the presence of such reagents, the reaction selectively affords the corresponding 16α-acyl rearranged products. The chemoselective rearrangement of 5β,6β;16α,17α-diepoxy-20-oxopregnan-3β-yl acetate to afford a ‘backbone’ rearranged product bearing the 16α,17α-epoxide group is also reported. Some mechanistic considerations are provided. All rearranged products were the subject of comprehensive structural elucidation, by the use of X-ray crystallography and 2D NMR.     

Synthesis of the 2,5-dioles of A-nor-5-alpha-cholestanes and A-nor-5-beta-cholestanes

Treatment of A-nor-Δ³⁽⁵⁾-cholestene-2-one ( 1 ) with alkaline hydrogen peroxide gave 3β,5-epoxy-A-nor-cholestane-2-one ( 2 ) and the epoxylactone 3 (BAEYER -VILLIGER reaction). LiAlH₄-reduction of 2 yielded A-nor-5β-cholestane-2β,5-diol( 4 ) (main product) and A-nor-5β-cholestane-2α,5-diol ( 5 ). LiAlH₄-reduction of 1 led mainly to A-nor-Δ³⁽⁵⁾-cholestene-2α-ol ( 8 ). Catalytic hydrogenation of 8 gave the known A-nor-5α-cholestane-2α-01 ( 10 ), A-nor-5β-cholestane-2α-01 ( 11 ) (main product), A-nor-5β-cholestane ( 9 ) and A-nor-5β-cholestane-2-one ( 12 ). By LiAlH₄-reduction of the ketones 12 and 13 the two additional alcohols 14 and 15 were obtained.     

Steroids and sex hormones. Quassinoid bitter principles. I. 1-oxo-2-methoxy-4 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-delta2-5 alpha-androstene as a model for the ring a structure of quassine]

Starting from 3-oxo-17β-hydroxy-Δ¹-5α-androstene (2b) the preparation of 1-oxo-2-methoxy-4α-methyl-17β-hydroxy-Δ²-5α-androstene (9), a compound with the ring A structure of quassine (1) is described. The key problem of the reaction sequence is shown to be the monomethylation at C(4).     

A transannular reaction during lithium ammonia reduction of an α,β-unsaturated ketone

The lithium-ammonia reduction of the α,β-unsaturated bicyclic dione 2-methyl-Δ^1,6-bicyclo[6,4,0]cyclododecene-5,9-dione 1 has been found to give two isomeric products 2α-methyl-5-oxo-6β-tricyclo[6,4,0,0^1,9] dodecan-9α-ol 2 and 2-β-methyl-5-oxo-6β-tricyclo[6,4,0,0^1,9]dodecan-9α-ol 3 involving a transannular reaction. Chemical and spectral evidence are presented to support the assigned structures. The stereochemistry of 2 arid 3 is also discussed.     

Steroids and sexual hormones. Synthetic experiments in the limonin series lV. A new Westphalen-Lettré rearrangement in the 4,4-dimethyl-steroid series]

Applying the HgCl₂/ClCH₂SCH₃-reaction 1. to 4,4-dimethyl-Δ⁵-7-oxo-19-hydroxy-androstene (9) one observes an intramolecular rearrangement of the «Westphalen-Lettré»-type (→11). A related rearrangement is observed by treating 3-oxo-4,4-dimethyl-17β-acetoxy-Δ⁵-androstene (12) with HgCl₂/ClCH₂SCH₃-reagent (→13). Reaction of 3β, 17β-diacetoxy-4,4-dimethyl-19-(methoxymethyl)-Δ⁵-androstene (7) with hydrogenfluoride/urea-reagent gives rise to a similar rearranged product (→15).     

Steroids and sex hormones, 231. The synthesis of N-acetyl-3-aza-A-homo-5-beta, 10-alpha-andostran and its 5-alpha-isomers

A synthesis of N-acetyl-3-aza-A-homo-5β, 10α-androstane ( 14 ) and N-acetyl-3-aza-A-homo-5α, 10α-androstane ( 15 ) is described, starting from 2-oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ⁵-10α-androstane ( 4 ).     

Synthesis of (-)-11 Hydroxy-delta8-6a, 10a-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol

When (?)-Δ⁸-6a, 10a-trans-THC (THC = Tetrahydrocannabinol), in the form of its diacetate, was irradiated in the presence of oxygen and a sensitizer, followed by reduction with NaBH₄, three allylic alcohols were formed: (?)-8α-and (?)-8β-hydroxy-Δ^9,11-THC (proportion 3:1) and (?)-9α-hydroxy-Δ^7,8-THC. Acetylation of the epimeric 8-hydroxy-compounds with Ac₂O/pyridine gave the corresponding diacetates. When (?)-Δ⁸-6a, 10a-trans-THC, in the form of its tetrahydropyranyl derivative, was heated with m-chloroperbenzoic acid, the two epimeric 8,9-epoxides were formed in equal amounts. These compounds, on treatment with butyllithium, afforded (?)-8α- and (?)-8β-hydroxy-Δ^9,11- 6a, 10a-trans-THC-tetrahydropyranylether. After removing the protecting group and treatment with Ac₂O/pyridine the same diacetates, as formed by photooxygenation of (?)-Δ⁸-THC-acetate, were obtained as a 1:1-mixture. On heating these epimeric diacetates to 290° they underwent allylic rearrangement to (?)-11-acetoxy-Δ⁸-THC-acetate. From this (?)-11-hydroxy-Δ⁸-6a, 10a-trans-THC was obtained by treatment with LiAlH₄.     

Steroid alcohols from the ascidianHalocynthia aurantium

The total sterols have been isolated fromHalocynthia aurantium by column chromatography on silica gel. The following steroid alcohols have been identified in it with the aid of GLC, GLC-MS, and¹H NMR: 5α-cholestan-3β-ol, 24ξ-methylcholestan-3β-ol, 24ξ-ethylcholestan-3β-ol, 4ξ-methyl-24ξ-ethyl-5α-cholestan-3β-ol, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24ξ-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24ξ-ethylcholes-5-en-3β-ol, 5α-cholest-22-en-3β-ol, 24-nor-5α-cholest-22-en-3β-ol, cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24ξ-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-norcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-ethylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, and 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol.     

Isolation ofΔ9(11)-sterols from the sea cucumber psolusfabricii. Implications for holothurin biosynthesis

- 14α-Methyl-5α-cholest-9(11)-en-3β-ol ($\text{2}$) and 4α,14α-dimethyl-5α-cholest-9(11)-en-3β-ol ($\text{3}$) have been isolated from the sea cucumber $\text{Psolus}$$\text{fabricii}$ and characterised by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry. Lanost-9(11)-en-3β-ol ($\text{4}$) has also been tentatively identified. The relevance of this series of Δ⁹⁽¹¹⁾-sterols to holothurin biosynthesis is briefly discussed.     

Synthetic approach to preparation of indole derivatives fused with a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane framework

Starting with Δ¹⁵-17-ketosteroids, applying Normant reaction with allylmagnesium bromide and anionic Cope rearrangement of the formed allyl alcohol, 15α-derivatives of androstane series were prepared. The latter were brought into Wittig reaction with an ylide generated from ethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, and the product was subjected to ene reaction to provide 15α-substituted pregnanes.     

Peridinosterol - a new Δ17-unsaturated sterol from two cultured marine algae

X-ray diffraction analysis of peridinosterol p-bromobenzoate has shown the parent sterol to be E-4α,23R,24R-trimethylcholest-17(20)-en-3β-ol - a new member of the rare Δ¹⁷-unsaturated sterol class. Its possible biosynthetic origin is discussed.     

Glykoside von Marsdenia erecta R. Br. 2. Mitteilung: Versuche zur Strukturbestimmung der Genine. Glykoside und Aglykone, 330. Mitteilung

Structures for the genins of the ester glycosides of Marsdenia erecta are suggested. They are based on the behaviour in alkaline hydrolysis of these ester glycosides, their NMR. and mass spectra and ORD. data. All genins are derived from three acyl-free pregnane derivatives, i.e. drevogenin-P ( 1 ), 17 β-marsdenin ( 3 ) and marsectohexol ( 7 ). The structure of 1 is known, 3 and 7 are new compounds, i.e. 3 = 3β,8β,11α,12β,14β-pentahydroxy-Δ⁵-pregnen-20-one and 7 = 3β,8β,11α,12β,14β,20ξ-hexahydroxy-Δ⁵-pregnene. Formulae 13–17 were attributed to the acyl-genins A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5, but only two of them were pure compounds, i.e. acyl-genin A-3 = 11,12-di-O-tiglyl-17β-marsdenin ( 15 ) and acyl-genin A-5 = 11,12-di-O-acetyl-marsectohexoi ( 17 ). Acyl-genin A-1 is a mixture of the two esters 13a + 13b derived from drevogenin-P, and similarly acyl-genin A-2 is a mixture of the esters 14a + 14b derived from 17β-marsdenin. The poorly characterised acyl-genin A-4 is most probably a mixture of the esters 16a + 16b , also derived from 17β-marsdenin.     

A synthesis of 3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine via a bromine rearrangement during fluorination with MOST reagent

A facile method for the synthesis of 3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine 6 has been developed. Fluorination of 5′-O-acetyl-3′-β-bromo-3′-deoxyadenosine 3 with MOST gave 2′-β-bromo-3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine 4 via a rearrangement of the 3′-β-bromine to the 2′-β position during 3′-α fluorination. The 2′-β bromine was reduced by radical reduction and then the 5′-O-acetyl group was removed to afford 3′-α-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine 6 in good yield. A possible mechanism for the rearrangement is discussed.     

Herstellung von 3-Oxo-17β-hydroxy-1,19-cyclo-5α-androstan. Über Steroide, 219. Mitteilung

Under the influence of radical anions generated from lithium and biphenyl, 3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-19-mesyloxy-Δ¹-5α-androstane was converted into 3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-1, 19-cyclo-5α-androstane.     

Zur lokalisierung funktioneller gruppen mit hilfe der massenspektrometrie—VIII : 6-hydroxy-androstan-3,17-dione und 6,17β-dihydroxy-androstan-3-one

5β-androstan-3-ones carrying a 6α-OH group show in their mass spectra a key-ion indicating the loss of water and C-1 to C-4 as C₄H₅O? particle. 6β-OH isomers lose instead C-1 to C-4 in form of C₄H₇O?.In 6α-hydroxy-androstan-3-ones differentiation between the connection of the A/B-ring system is possible, because in 5α-isomers the loss of C-3 to C-7 occurs as a C₅H₆O₂ particle, while the 5β-isomers lose the same C atoms as a C₅H₇O? unit.Compounds with a 6β-OH group in an A/B trans connected ring system show a tendency for thermal water elimination. After rearrangement of the double bond in 4,5 position the typical fragments for 3-keto-Δ⁴-steroids are obtained.Occasionally a strong influence of a 6-OH group on fragmentation reactions in the D-ring system is observed: The presence of a 6α-OH group in an androstan-3,17-dione enhances the loss of C-16 and C-17 in the form of acetaldehydenol. Also the connection of the A/B-ring system may have a considerable influence on this type of reaction: In 6,17β-dihydroxy-androstan-3-ones only by trans connection of the A/B-ring system, C-16 and C-17 are lost with high probability after water elimination.     

Steroids and sex hormones. The synthesis of 1-beta, 4-beta-oxido-3-aza-17-beta-hydroxy-A-homo-5-alpha-androstane

A sterically controlled transformation of 3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ^1?-α-androstene ( 2 ) into 1β,4β-oxido-3-aza-17β-hydroxy-A-homo-5α-androstane ( 16 ) is described. With the exception of two conversions [ 14 → 15 (60%); 15 → 16 (50%)], the yields of the remaining seven steps are higher than 75% each. The reaction sequence will serve as a model for an analogous partial synthesis of samandarine ( 1 ).     

Sesquiterpenoids and norsesquiterpenoids from three liverworts

Six new sesquiterpenoids and two new norsesquiterpenoids were isolated from the essential oils of three liverworts. The isolated compounds include (+)-eudesma-4,11-dien-8α-ol from the liverwort Diplophyllum albicans, (−)-4β,5β-diacetoxygymnomitr-3(15)-ene, (+)-5β-acetoxygymnomitr-3(15)-ene, (−)-15-acetoxygymnomitr-3-ene, (−)-3β,15β-epoxy-4β-acetoxygymnomitrane, and (−)-3α,15α-epoxy-4β-acetoxygymnomitrane from Marsupella emarginata, and (+)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-1,4-dimethylazulene and (−)-2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-1,4-dimethylazulen-4-ol from Barbilophozia floerkei. These compounds were isolated by a combination of different chromatographic techniques, and their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic studies (MS, ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR) and chemical transformations using enantioselective GC.     

20, 21-Azirdin-Steroide: Reaktion von Derivaten der Oxime von 5-Pregnen-20-on,9β,10α-5-Pregnen-20-on und 9β,10α-5,7-Pregnadien-20-on mit Lithiumaluminiumhydrid und von 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-on-oxim mit Grignard-Verbindungen

20, 21-Aziridine Steroids: Reaction of Derivatives of the Oximes of 5-Pregnen-20-one, 9β, 10α-5-Pregnen-20-one and 9β, 10α-5,7-Pregnadiene-20-one with Lithium Aluminium Hydride, and of 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one Oxime with Grignard Reagents. Reduction of 3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one oxime ( 2 ) with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran yielded 20α-amino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 1 ), 20β-amino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 3 ), 20β, 21-imino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 6 ) and 20β, 21-imino-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 9 ). The aziridines 6 and 9 were separated via the acetyl derivatives 7 and 10 . The reaction of 6 and 9 with CS₂ gave 5-(3β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17β-yl)-thiazolidine-2-thione ( 8 ). Treatment of the 20-oximes 12 and 15 of the corresponding 9β,10α(retro)-pregnane derivatives with LiAlH₄ gave the aziridines 13 and 16 , respectively. Their deamination led to the diene 14 and triene 17 , respectively. Reduction of isobutyl methyl ketone-oxime with LiAlH₄ in tetrahydrofuran yielded 2-amino-4-methyl-pentane ( 19 ) as main product, 1, 2-imino-4-methyl-pentane ( 22 ) as second product and the epimeric 2,3-imino-4-methyl-pentanes 20 and 21 as minor products. – 3β-Hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one oxime ( 2 ) was transformed by methylmagnesium iodide in toluene to 20α, 21-imino-20-methyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 23 ) and 20β, 21-imino-20-methyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 26 ). Acetylation of these aziridines was accompanied by elimination reactions leading to 3β-acetoxy-20-methylidene-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 30 ) and 3β-acetoxy-20-methyl-21-N-acetylamino-5,17-pregnadiene ( 32 ). The reaction of oxime 2 with ethylmagnesium bromide in toluene gave 20α, 21-imino-20-ethyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 24 ) and 20α,21-imino-20-ethyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 27 ). Acetylation of 24 and 27 led to 3β-acetoxy-20-ethylidene-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 31 ), 3β-acetoxy-20-ethyl-21-N-acetylamino-5,17-pregnadiene 33 and 3β, 20-diacetoxy-20-ethyl-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 37 ). With phenylmagnesium bromide in toluene the oxime 2 was transformed to 20β, 21-imino-20-phenyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 25 ) and 20β,21-imino-20-phenyl-5-pregnen-3β-ol ( 28 ). Acetylation of 25 and 28 yielded 3β-acetoxy-20-phenyl-21-N-acetylamino-5, 17-pregnadiene ( 34 ) and 3β,20-diacetoxy-20-phenyl-21-N-acetylamino-5-pregnene ( 39 ). LiAlH₄-reduction of 39 gave 3β, 20-dihydroxy-20-phenyl-21-N-ethylamino-5-pregnene ( 41 ). – The 20, 21-aziridines are stable to LiAlH₄. Consequently they are no intermediates in the formation of the 20-amino derivatives obtained from the oxime 2 .