Steroidal phenyl ketones were synthesised in high yields by palladium-catal
ysed carbonylation reactions of 17-iodo-androst-16-ene derivatives in the p
resence of NaBPh4 under mild reaction conditions. Alkenyl bromides or enol
triflates gave lower yields in the same reaction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.