SYNTHESIS OF 17-(2-METHOXY-3-OXAZOLIN-4-YL), 17-(3-OXAZOLIN-4-YL), AND 17-(2-OXAZOLIN-4-YLIDENE)-SUBSTITUTED STEROIDS AND THEIR USE AS PRECURSORS OF CORTICOSTEROIDS
D. Vanleusen et al., SYNTHESIS OF 17-(2-METHOXY-3-OXAZOLIN-4-YL), 17-(3-OXAZOLIN-4-YL), AND 17-(2-OXAZOLIN-4-YLIDENE)-SUBSTITUTED STEROIDS AND THEIR USE AS PRECURSORS OF CORTICOSTEROIDS, Journal of organic chemistry, 59(19), 1994, pp. 5650-5657
17-(Isocyanotosylmethylene)steroids 4 are useful intermediates in the
conversion of 17-oxosteroids into 17-(hydroxyacetyl)steroids. The 21-C
H2OH group is effectively introduced by a base-mediated reaction of co
mpounds 4 with formaldehyde and MeOH to give 17-(2-methoxy-3-oxazolin-
4-yl) derivatives 12, which by acid hydrolysis give 17-(hydroxyacetyl)
steroids 10 and 16 in high yields. Partial hydrolysis of the same oxaz
oline derivatives 12 provides the 17-(hydroxyacetyl) cortico side chai
n of 13 equipped with a formyl-protected hydroxy group. 3-Oxazolinyl a
nd 2-oxazolinylidene steroid derivatives 19, 20, and 21, without a 2-m
ethoxy substituent, are discussed as alternatives of 12.