Abstract
21-Hydroxymethyl-Reichstein's substance S (III), 21-hydroxymethyldexamethasone (IV ), 21-hydroxymethyldeoxycorticosterone (VI) and 21, 21-bis(hydroxymethyl)deoxycorticosterone (VII) were synthesized by the aldol condensation of the parent steroids with formaldehyde in the presence of sodium acetate. When 21-hydroxymethyl-Reichstein's substance S diacetate (VIII) and 21-hydroxymethyldeoxycorticosterone diacetate (X) were passed through a column of alumina, 21-methyl-17α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3, 20, 21-trione acetate(IX) and 21-methylpregn-4-ene-3, 20, 21-trione (XI) were obtained. The diketone (XI) underwent further decomposition in the air to give androst-4-ene-3, 17-dione.
