Methanol → 7beta-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 500 L reactor was charged 230 kg methanol, 33 kg (wet) 3β-acetoxy-7β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one, 108 kg water and 15 kg Na2CO3. The mixture was heated to reflux for 3 hours. Methanol was removed under vacuum whereupon 250 kg of water was added to the residue. The mixture was put in refrigerator overnight to give a precipitate. The solids were collected by filtration, then washed with water and dried at 40-50° C. to yield 9.5-10.5 kg (67.9-75.0%) of the title compound as a white solid.

Provenance & Evidence