Silenosterone is synthesized in five steps: acetylation of 2-desoxy-alpha-e
cdysone (1), saponification of 2-desoxy-alpha-ecdysone-3,22-diacetate (2) t
o the 22-monoacetate (3), and oxidation of the latter to a ketone (4) and i
ts base hydrolysis (5). The structures of the compounds are confirmed by PM
R, IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.