Mestanolone → Methyl-1-testosterone

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of mestanolone (55.3 g, 0.182 mol) and IBX (76.5 g, 0.273 mol, 1.5 eq.) in 1800 ml toluene:DMSO (2:1) was heated at 65-70° C. for 48 h after which time the beginning clear solution turned into a suspension. TLC (thin layer chromatography) indicated the disappearance of starting mestanolone and the appearance of the desired product and two by-products. After cooling to RT (room temperature), the reaction mixture was filtered on a frit and solid washed with ethyl acetate (2×200 ml). The filtrate was diluted with 1000 ml of ethyl acetate and the resulting organic phase was washed with 1000 ml each of 5% NaHCO3, water, and brine. After drying over sodium sulfate, removal of the solvents on a rotavapor gave ˜56.0 g of a crude products mixture containing the required product (i.e., 17α-methyl-17β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-3-one) along with two minor by-products.

Provenance & Evidence