Ammonia → Estradiol 3-methyl ether

Participants

Reaction Steps

Add dl-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10),8-tetraen-17β-ol (37.5 g) in tetrahydrofuran (350 ml) to a stirred solution of liquid ammonia (1 liter) and aniline (45 ml). Add lithium (2 g), stir for 30 minutes, and then add ammonium chloride (20 g) followed by water. Extract with ether-benzene (1:1) and wash the organic solution with water, excess 3N hydrochloric acid, water and dry. Evaporate the solvent and recrystallize the residue from ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain dl-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17β-ol (12 g), m.p. 121°-124°; ultraviolet absorption peak at 278 mμ (ε1,810); infrared maxima at 3.0 μ, 6.2 μ, 6.75 μ.

Provenance & Evidence