Reactions of 5-hydroxy-6-oxo steroids-iii : Acid-catalysed reactions of 3β-acetoxy-5-hydroxy-5α-cholestan-6-one

Aromatization of the title compound with selected acidic catalysts has been investigated. It has been established that depending upon the reaction conditions trienone 2,1 -methyltrienone3, dienone 4, diacetoxyketone5 or dione 6 are formed as the major products. Dienone 4 and dione 6 are the main compounds of the reactions of tosyloxyketone 10 with KHSO₄ and HBr_aq, respectively. The reaction of acetoxyketone 8 with HBr_aq furnishes epimeric 3-bromoketones 12 and 13 in the ratio about 1:1.