Synthesis of 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-2-eno[3,2-b]pyrrole and 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-3-eno[3,4-b]pyrrole from O-(2-hydroxyethyl)ketoxime precursors

Pyrrolosteroids such as 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-2-eno3,2-b]pyrrole ( 1 ) and the novel 17β-hydroxy-1′-H-5α-androst-3-eno3,4-b]pyrrole ( 12 ) can be synthesized from the corresponding O-(2-hydroxyethyl)ketoxime precursors. In the case of 1 , yields compare favourably with previously reported literature methods.