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.     

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.     

Three steroids with unique structural feature of 5β-Spirostan-1β,3β,17α-trihydroxyl from Reineckia carnea

A new spirostanol sapogenin and two spirostanol saponins, tentatively named reineckiagenin A (1), reineckiagenoside A (2), and reineckiagenoside B (3), were isolated from the whole plant of Reineckia carnea. By detailed analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra, chemical methods, and by comparison with spectra data of known compounds, the structures of the new steroids were determined to be 25(S)-5β-spirostan-1β,3β,17α-triol (1), 25(S)-5β-spirostan-1β,3β,17α-triol 1-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (2), 25(S)-5β-spirostan-1β,3β,17α-triol 1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranoside (3). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 are the first naturally occurring steroids with unique structural feature of 5β-spirostan-1β,3β,17α-trihydroxyl.     

Urine stability and steroid profile: towards a screening index of urine sample degradation for anti-doping purpose

The presence of microorganisms in urine samples, under favourable conditions of storage and transportation, may alter the concentration of steroid hormones, thus altering the correct evaluation of the urinary steroid profile in doping control analysis. According to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA technical document TD2004 EAAS), a testosterone deconjugation higher than 5% and the presence of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the deconjugated fraction, are reliable indicators of urine degradation. The determination of these markers would require an additional quantitative analysis since the steroids screening analysis, in anti-doping laboratories, is performed in the total (free + conjugated) fraction. The aim of this work is therefore to establish reliable threshold values for some representative compounds (namely 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione) in the total fraction in order to predict directly at the screening stage the potential microbial degradation of the urine samples. Preliminary evidence on the most suitable degradation indexes has been obtained by measuring the urinary concentration of testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione by gas chromatography–mass spectrometric every day for 15 days in the deconjugated, glucuronide and total fraction of 10 pools of urines from 60 healthy subjects, stored under different pH and temperature conditions, and isolating the samples with one or more markers of degradation according to the WADA technical document TD2004EAAS. The threshold values for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione were therefore obtained correlating the testosterone deconjugation rate with the urinary concentrations of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the total fraction. The threshold values suggested as indexes of urine degradation in the total fraction were: 10 ng mL⁻¹ for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 20 ng mL⁻¹ for 5β-androstane-3,17-dione. The validity of this approach was confirmed by the analysis of routine samples for more than five months (i.e. on a total of more than 4000 urine samples): samples with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione higher than the threshold values showed a percentage of free testosterone higher than 5 of its total amount; whereas free testosterone in a percentage higher than 5 of its total amount was not detected in urines with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione lower than the threshold values.     

Steroid compounds of marine sponges. VII. Preparation of derivatives of sokotrasterol and halistanol sulfates and structure-activity interrelationships among these compounds

Five new sulfated derivatives of sokotrasterol and halistanol have been obtained: 24-nor-5α-cholane-2β,3α,6α,23-tetraol 2β,3α,6α-tri(sodium sulfate); 24-nor-5α-cholane-2β,3α,6α,23-tetraol 2β,3α,6α-tri(sodium sulfate) 23-palmitate; 24ε,25-dimethyl-5α-cholestane-2β,3α,6α-triol 3α-(sodium sulfate); 24ε,25-dimethyl-5α-cholestane-2β,3α,6α-triol 6α-(sodium sulfate); and 24ε,25-dimethyl-5α-cholestane-2β,3α,6α-triol 2β,6α-di(sodium sulfate). The inhibiting and membranolytic properties of the polysulfated steroids from sponges and their derivatives have been studied. It has been shown that physiological activity in this series of compounds depends on biphilicity.     

Metabolic studies of mesterolone in horses

Mesterolone (1α-methyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one) is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) with reported abuses in human sports. As for other AAS, mesterolone is also a potential doping agent in equine sports. Metabolic studies on mesterolone have been reported for humans, whereas little is known about its metabolic fate in horses. This paper describes the studies of both the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of mesterolone in racehorses with an objective to identify the most appropriate target metabolites for detecting mesterolone administration.In vitro biotransformation studies of mesterolone were performed by incubating the steroid with horse liver microsomes. Metabolites in the incubation mixture were isolated by liquid-liquid extraction and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after acylation or silylation. Five metabolites (M1-M5) were detected. They were 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one (M1), 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3β-ol-17-one (M2), 1α-methyl-5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (M3), 1α-methyl-5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (M4), and 1α-methyl-5α-androstane-3,17-dione (M5). Of these in vitro metabolites, M1, M3, M4 and M5 were confirmed using authentic reference standards. M2 was tentatively identified by mass spectral comparison to M1.For the in vivo metabolic studies, Proviron^® (20 tablets × 25 mg of mesterolone) was administered orally to two thoroughbred geldings. Pre- and post-administration urine samples were collected for analysis. Free and conjugated metabolites were isolated using solid-phase extraction and analysed by GC-MS as described for the in vitro studies. The results revealed that mesterolone was extensively metabolised and the parent drug was not detected in urine. Three metabolites detected in the in vitro studies, namely M1, M2 and M4, were also detected in post-administration urine samples. In addition, two stereoisomers each of 1α-methyl-5α-androstane-3,17α-diol (M6 and M7) and 1α-methyl-5α-androstane-3,16-diol-17-one (M8 and M9), and an 18-hydroxylated metabolite 1α-methyl-5α-androstane-3,18-diol-17-one (M10) were also detected. The metabolic pathway for mesterolone is postulated. These studies have shown that metabolites M8, M9 and M10 could be used as potential screening targets for controlling the misuse of mesterolone in horses.     

Elimination of 14β-hydroxy-12-mesyloxy-5β-steroids

Elimination of a 12α-methanesulfoxy group in 3β-acetoxy-14β-hydroxy-12α-mesyloxy-5β-androstane-17β-carboxylic-acid-14β-lactone under preventing Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements by steric fixation, is reported. Furthermore, the synthesis of this compound and the different elimination behaviors in the 12α- and the 12β-isomers are described.     

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 .     

Terpenoids—LXXI: Chemical studies of marine invertebrates—XIV. Four representatives of a novel sesquiterpene class—the capnellane skeleton

The isolation and complete structure determination of four marine sesquiterpenoids: Δ⁹⁽¹²⁾-capnellene-8β,10α-diol (1), Δ⁹⁽¹²⁾-capnellene-3β,8β,10α-triol (3), Δ⁹⁽¹²⁾-capnellene-5α,8β,10α-triol (5), Δ⁹⁽¹²⁾-capnellene-2ξ,8β,10α-triol (7) from the soft coral Capnella imbricata is described. These alcohols are the first members of a fundamentally new sesquiterpene class consisting of three 5-membered fused rings which we have named capnellane (A).     

Two new epoxysteroids from Helianthus tuberosus

Two new epoxy steroids, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22β,23β-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (1) and 5α,8α-epidioxy-22α,23α-epoxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (2), and ten known steroids including (24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-en-3β-ol (3), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5), β-sitosterol (6), sitost-5-en-3β-ol acetate (7), 7α-hydroxysitosterol (8), schleicheol 2 (9), (24R)-24-ethyl-5α-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (10), 7α-hydroxystigmasterol (11), and stigmasterol (12) were isolated from Helianthus tuberosus grown in Laizhou salinized land of coastal zone of Bohai Sea, China. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The new compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antibacterial activity and no antifungal activity.     

Microbial Metabolism of the Diterpene Sclareol: Oxidation of the A Ring by Septomyxa affinis

Microbial metabolism of the diterpene sclareol ( 1 ) was studied. Screening studies have shown a number of microorganisms capable of metabolizing 1 . Preparative-scale fermentation with Septomyxa affinis ATCC 6737 has resulted in the production of three fungal metabolites that have been characterized by 2D-NMR techniques and chemical reactions. These metabolites have been identified as 8α,13β-dihydroxylabd-14-en-3-one ( 2 ), labd-14-ene-3β.8α,13β-triol ( 4 ), and labd-14-ene-2α,8α,13β-triol ( 6 ).     

Photosensitized Oxygenation of Abieta-7,9(11)-dien-13β-ol

Dehydration of abiet-8-ene-7β, 13β-diol (ibozol, 1 ) leads to abieta-7,9(11)-dien-13β-ol ( 2 ) which aromatizes slowly to the known abieta-8,11,13-triene ( 3 ). Photosensitized oxygenation of the heteroannular diene 2 yields a mixture from which three compounds were identified; abiet-7-ene-9α, 11α, 13β-triol ( 4 ), abieta-8,11,13-trien-7-one ( 5 ), and abieta-8,11,13-trien-7α-ol ( 6 ).     

Structure of a new sterol from the South China sponge Dysidea fragilis

A new sterol, 5a-cholesta-8(14),24(25)-diene-3/β, 6a-diol (1) and a known sterol (24Z)-24-ethyl-cholesta-7(8),24(28)-diene-3β,5a,6β-triol (2) have been isolated from the South China Seasponge Dysidea fragilis. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 were established by spectralanalysis, including 2D NMR experiments.     

云南美登木内生真菌Phomopsis sp. Lz42的化学成分

从云南美登木内生真菌Phomopsis species Lz42的琼脂平板发酵物中分离得到2个倍半萜和5个麦角甾醇类化合物(1~7), 其中化合物1和2为新化合物. 应用波谱技术确定其结构为4-Deacetyl-10-oxo-dihydrobotrydial(1)和麦角甾-6,22-二烯-5α,8α-环二氧-3-甲酸酯(2).     

Photooxygenation of Pregnanes

The course of the singlet‐oxygen reaction with pregn‐17(20)‐enes and pregn‐5,17(20)‐dienes was studied to compare the reactivity of the two alkene moieties present in some steroid families. Thus, from commercially available (3β,5α)‐hydroxy‐androstan‐17‐one and (3β)‐3‐hydroxyandrost‐5‐en‐17‐one, the following 3‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐substituted, 17(20)‐unsaturated pregnanes were prepared (see Fig. 1): (3β,5α)‐21‐norpregn‐17(20)‐ene 1 ; (3β,5α,17Z)‐pregn‐17(20)‐ene 2 , (3β,5α,16α,17E)‐pregn‐17(20)‐en‐16‐ol 3 , (16β,5α,17E)‐pregn‐17(20)‐en‐16‐ol 4 , (3β,5α,16β,17E)‐pregn‐17(20)‐en‐16‐ol acetate 5 , (3β,16α)‐21‐norpregna‐5,17(20)‐dien‐16‐ol 6 , (3β,16α,17E)‐pregna‐5,17(20)‐dien‐16‐ol 7 , (3β,17Z)‐pregna‐5,17(20)‐diene 8 , (3β,17E)‐pregna‐5,17(20)‐dien‐21‐ol 9 and (3β,17E)‐5,17(20)‐dien‐21‐ol acetate 10 . The oxygenated products (see Fig. 2) obtained from 1 – 10 and ¹O₂, generated by irradiation of Rose Bengal in ³O₂‐saturated pyridine solution, were characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐NMR, and MS (EI, FAB, HR‐EI, ESI‐ and UV‐MALDI‐TOF) data. Major products were those formed by the ene reaction involving as intermediates the corresponding hydroperoxides and the cyclic tautomers of the allylic hydroperoxides, i.e., the corresponding oxiranium oxide‐like intermediate (Scheme 5).     

Antibacterial sphingolipid and steroids from the black coral Antipathes dichotoma

From the black coral Antipathies dichotoma, a sphingolipid (2S*,3S*,4E,8E)-2N-[tetradecanoyl]-4(E),8(E)-icosadiene-1,3-diol (1) and a steroid (22E)-methylcholesta-5,22-diene-1α,3β,7α-triol (2) were isolated. Other known compounds, 3β,7α-dihydroxy-cholest-5-ene (3), (22E,24S),5α,8α-epidioxy-24-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4) and (22E,24S),5α,8α-epidioxy-24-methylcholesta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5). The structures were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature. The antibacterial activity of five compounds was evaluated.     

A favorski reaction using iodosobenzene

Iodosobenzene or iodobenzene diacetate and excess base when reacted with 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstane-3-one (1a) unexpectedly gave a good yield of Favorski acid (3a) and some (3b). 17β-hydroxy-5α-19-norandrostan-3-one (1b) gave mainly the expected dimethylketal of the 2α-hydroxy-3-keto steroid (5).     

Crabbogenin, 1β-hydroxycrabbogenin,strictagenin and pompeygenin,four new steroidal sapogenins from cordyline stricta leaves

From the leaves of Cordyline stricia Endl. four new steroidal sapogenins crabbogenin {5α-spirost-25(27)-en-3α-ol}, 1β-hydroxycrabbogenin, strictagenin {(20S, 22S, 25S)-5α-furostan-22, 25-epoxy-1β, 3α, 26-triol} and pompeygenin {(25S)-5α-spirostane-1β, 3α-25-triol} have been isolated and their structures determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods.     

Combination of carbon isotope ratio with hydrogen isotope ratio determinations in sports drug testing

Carbon isotope ratio (CIR) analysis has been routinely and successfully applied to doping control analysis for many years to uncover the misuse of endogenous steroids such as testosterone. Over the years, several challenges and limitations of this approach became apparent, e.g., the influence of inadequate chromatographic separation on CIR values or the emergence of steroid preparations comprising identical CIRs as endogenous steroids. While the latter has been addressed recently by the implementation of hydrogen isotope ratios (HIR), an improved sample preparation for CIR avoiding co-eluting compounds is presented herein together with newly established reference values of those endogenous steroids being relevant for doping controls. From the fraction of glucuronidated steroids 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol, 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol, 3α-Hydroxy-5β-androstane-11,17-dione, 3α-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (ANDRO), 3α-hydroxy-5β-androstan-17-one (ETIO), 3β-hydroxy-androst-5-en-17-one (DHEA), 5α- and 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol (5aDIOL and 5bDIOL), 17β-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one and 17α-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one were included. In addition, sulfate conjugates of ANDRO, ETIO, DHEA, 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one plus 17α- and androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol were considered and analyzed after acidic solvolysis. The results obtained for the reference population encompassing n?=?67 males and females confirmed earlier findings regarding factors influencing endogenous CIR. Variations in sample preparation influenced CIR measurements especially for 5aDIOL and 5bDIOL, the most valuable steroidal analytes for the detection of testosterone misuse. Earlier investigations on the HIR of the same reference population enabled the evaluation of combined measurements of CIR and HIR and its usefulness regarding both steroid metabolism studies and doping control analysis. The combination of both stable isotopes would allow for lower reference limits providing the same statistical power and certainty to distinguish between the endo- or exogenous origin of a urinary steroid.     

Steroid glycosides ofNicotiana tabacum seeds I. The structures of nicotianosides A,B, and E

Two steroid glycosides of the spirostan series — nicotianosides A and B — and one glycoside of the furostan series — nicotianoside E — have been isolated from the seeds ofNicotiana tabacum L. Nicotianoside A is (25S)-5α-spirostan-3β-ol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, nicotianoside B is (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol 3-O-[O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-gb-D-glucopyranoside], and nicotianoside E is (25S)-5α-furostan-3β,22α,26-triol 26-O-β-glucopyranoside 3-O-[O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside].