Acylation of the 4,5- and 5,6-double bond isomers of 3-steroidal thiazolidines: The chemical stability of spiro-3-steroidal 4,5- and 5,6-double bond isomers

It has been shown that the 5,6-double bond steroidal thiazolidines can be N-acylated if there is no substituent in the 4'-position on the thiazolidine ring; substituents in the 4'-position of the thiazolidine sterically hinder acylation. On the other hand, the 4,5-double bond steroidal thiazolidine isomers decomposed on attempted acylation. The lability of these 4,5-double bond isomers was attributed to the contribution of a hyperconjugative resonance form to the structure of the 4,5-double bond isomers.