Reduction of some D-homosteroids with an aromatic a ring with alkali metals under the conditions of Birch's reaction. II.

Summary 1. The reduction of 3-methoxy-D-homoestra-1, 3, 5(10), 8-tetraen-17a-ol (IV) with alkali metals in the presence of ammonium chloride or alcohol gives, in addition to 8, 9-dihydro derivatives, the 8, 9 and 8, 9-epimers, the structure of which has been shown partly by independent synthesis and partly on the basis of chemical reactions and NMR spectra.2. Hydrolysis of the reduction products has given 19-nor-D-homotestosterone (III) and its 8- and 9, 10-epimers (V) and (VI). The ketols (III) and (V) readily form hydroperoxides in air.3. The reduction of the ethylene ketal of 3-methoxy-D-homoestra-1, 3, 5(10), 8-tetraen-17a-one (XIX) takes place stereodirectively and gives only 8, 9-dihydro derivatives.Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 90–100, 1965