Hydrochloric Acid → (17beta)-3-Oxoandrost-4-ene-17-carboxylic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Methyl androst-4-ene-3-one-17β-carboxylate (20 g, 60 mmol) was dissolved in 700 ml of a 20:1 solution of methanol:water and potassium hydroxide (7 g) was added and the solution was refluxed under argon for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was then acidified with 5% hydrochloric acid and 250 ml water was added. After aging for 1 hour, the mixture was filtered and dried to yield 18 g (94%) of androst-4-ene-3-one-17β-carboxylic acid as a white crystalline solid.

Provenance & Evidence