Synlett 2011(12): 1709-1712  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1260803
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

A Mild One-Pot Method for Conversion of Various Steroidal Secondary Alcohols into the Corresponding Olefins

Raju Ranjith Kumar, Shrutisagar Dattatraya Haveli, Henri B. Kagan*
Laboratoire de Catalyse Moléculaire, Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d’Orsay (UMR CNRS 8182), Bâtiment 420, Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
Fax: +33(1)69154680; e-Mail: henri.kagan@u-psud.fr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 7 April 2011
Publication Date:
21 June 2011 (online)

Abstract

The addition of Tf2O to some hydroxy steroids in the presence of excess base directly leads to steroidal olefins. This methodology is useful for the one-pot synthesis of Δ²- or Δ³-steroids under mild conditions from the corresponding alcohols.

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The Tf2O/DMAP protocol was applied to primary alcohols (aliphatic alcohols, bisacetonide of glucopyranose), which were transformed into the corresponding triflates devoid of elimination products. Triflates were also produced from some secondary alcohols in carbohydrate family (as bisacetonide of galactopyranose). Terpenoid secondary alcohols provided elimination products.