REDUCTION OF (1,3-DIENE)TRICARBONYLIRON(0) COMPLEXES - APPLICATION TO(ERGOSTEROLACETATE)TRICARBONYLIRON(0)

Reaction of (ergosterol acetate)tricarbonyliron(0) (1) with lithium al uminiumhydride leads to the selective reduction of the 5,6 double bond . The A/B ring junction of the reduction product has been shown to be trails on the basis of C-13 NMR. This information has been used to con firm that the initial addition of hydride to the coordinated ergostero l acetate occurs on the alpha-face at C-5. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S .A.