The synthesis of sodium androst-5-ene-17-one-3 beta-methylene sulfonat
e 2, a stable analog of memory-enhancing neurosteroid dehydroepiandros
terone sulfate, is described. The synthesis of compound 2 is carried o
ut in six steps from dehydroepiandrosterone. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Scie
nce Inc.