4,5-Seco-4,6-cyclosteroids. I. Structure and properties of the diol from reductive rearrangement of 6β-Bromo-4β,5-epoxy-5β-cholestan-3β-ol

Abstract

Treatment of 6β-bromo-4β,5-epoxy-5β-cholestan-3β-ol (IV) with lithium aluminium hydride in tetrahydrofuran at reflux for 16 hr gave a high yield of a new diol, C₂₇H₄₈O₂, formulated as 4,5-seco-4,6-cyolo-6β- cholestane-3β,5α-diol (VIIa). This assignment follows from mechanistic considerations, and the chemical and physical properties of the dial and its transformation products.     Stepwise removal of the oxygen functions gave the new hydrocarbon 4,5-seco-4,6-cyclo-6β-cholestane (XIXg).