New analogs of D-homoequilenine with substituents in the D ring

Stereoselectivity of reaction with Raney nickel of D-homoestra-1,3,5(10),8,14-pentaenes containing one or two methyl groups in position 16 was investigated. The reaction direction is governed by the orientation of the substituent at C^17a. The signals in the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of four synthesized compounds were completely assigned. Criteria for evaluation of the character of rings junction in analogs of D-homoequilenine were suggested. 16,16-Dimethyl-3-methoxy-D-homo-13α-estra-1,3,5(10),6,8-pentaen-17a-one was subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis.