Diethyl Ether → HCID 86735676, compound

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Reaction Steps

The 7α-methyl-4-androstene-3,19-diones are produced by alkylating the corresponding 4,6-androstadiene-3,19-dione with dimethyllithium copper in an inert solvent such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, hexane or mixtures of these at temperatures ranging from -78° C. to 25° C. Tetrahydrofuran is the preferred solvent and temperatures between -5° C. to 10° C. provide optimum results. Quenching the initially formed enolate anion with a weak protonating agent such as a saturated solution of ammonium chloride, oxalic acid or boric acid provides the 7α-methyl-5-androstene-3,19-dione. Quenching the enolate with a strong protonating agent such as hydrochloric acid provides the 7α-methyl-4-androstene-3,19-diones.

Provenance & Evidence