Ammonia → Nandrolone

Participants

Reaction Steps

1.0 g. of 3-methoxy-17β-tert.-butoxy-1,3,5(10),9(11)-estratetraene is dissolved in 4 ml. of aniline and 3 ml of ethanol, added to 150 ml. of liquid ammonia, 5 g. of lithium perchlorate and electrolyzed for 2 hours at 1 ampere on a mercury electrode in a cell divided by a porous glass plate. After the mixture has been worked up, the crude product (1.1 g.) is dissolved in ethanol and heated with 3 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. By gently adding water, 0.6 g. of nortestosterone is obtained after cooling which, after recrystallization from isopropyl ether, has a melting point of 108°-110° C.

Provenance & Evidence