Studies on the Transformation of Steroids by Microorganisms

Part VII. Reduction of Ring A by Streptomyces aureus

Abstract

Microbiological trallsformation of Reichstein's substallce S (4-pregnene-17α, 21-diol-3, 20-dione) was carried out by the use of Streptornyces aureus (ATCC 3309) and allopregnane-3β, 17α, 21-triol-20-one was prepared in good yield. The reduction of Δ⁴-3-ketone to 3β(OH)-5α(H) group achieved in this experiment has not yet been observed hitherto in the transformation of steroids using Streptomyces species although a different type of reduction was reported elsewhere.