Synthesis of 2,5 diol of A-nor-5 alpha-androstan-17 beta- ols and A-nor-5 beta-androstan-17 beta-ols

The synthesis of A-nor-5β-androstane-2α,5,17β-triol ( 8 ), A-nor-5β-androstane-2β,5,17β-triol ( 10 ), A-nor-5α-androstane-2β,5,17β-triol ( 20 ), A-nor-5α-androstane-2β,5,17β-triol ( 22 ) and of their 17-O-benzoyl derivatives is described, using A-nor-testosterone ( 1 ) as starting material.