Dissolve dl-13-ethyl-17β-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3-methoxygona-1,3,5(10)-triene (4.0 g) in 1-methoxy-2-propanol (60 ml), tetrahydrofuran (120 ml) and liquid ammonia (300 ml). Gradually add lithium (4.0 g) with stirring over a period of 1 hour. Add ammonium chloride (8.0 g) and water. Filter, wash and dry the resulting precipitate. Dissolve the product in tetrahydrofuran (300 ml) and liquid ammonia (300 ml) and treat with lithium (4.0 g). Stir for 1 hour. Add absolute ethanol, then water. Filter the resulting precipitate and wash it with water to obtain dl-13-ethyl-17β-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene (3.4 g); essentially no ultraviolet absorption at the 280 mμ region, infrared absorption maxima at 2.91 μ, 5.89 μ, 6.0 μ.
