Abstract
Syntheses of (20R)- and (20S)-1α, 3β-diacetoxypregna-5, 7-dien-20-ol (1 and 2), important synthetic intermediates for the preparation of 1α, 25-dihydroxy-22-oxa-vitamin D3 derivatives, were achieved starting from pregnenolone. Similar treatment of androst-5-ene-3β, 17β-diol afforded 1α, 3β-diacetoxyandrosta-5, 7-dien-17β-ol.