Syntheses of 5'-acyl furanosteroids are described from the correspondi
ng unsubstituted [3,2-b]furanosteroids using acid anhydrides and acid
chlorides in the presence or absence of Lewis acids. New methods have
been developed to prepare 5'-acetyl derivatives: reduction of a 5'-tri
chloroacetyl intermediate either by sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate or
with 10% Pd/C. Most of these 5'-acyl derivatives bind to the rat vent
ral prostate androgen receptor. However the antiandrogenic activity wa
s diminished when compared with 4, 5'-methylsulfonyl furanosteroid. Bi
ological studies revealed that 5'-acyl furanosteroids were either andr
ogens or modest antiandrogens. The electrostatic potential maps of the
substructures of 3, 4, and 5'-acetyl syn- and anti-furanosteroids sho
wed striking differences which may explain, to some extent, the lack o
f significant antiandrogenic activity of 5'-acyl furanosteroids.