Steroid Total Synthesis, Part VII; (±)‐estr‐4‐ene‐3, 17‐dione and (±) 13β‐ethyl‐gon‐4‐ene‐3, 17‐dione

Abstract

Abstract An efficient and practical synthesis of the title compounds is described. The novel route is based on earlier results and uses (±)‐5‐hydroxy‐9,9‐ o ‐phenylenedioxy‐decanoic acid lactone as the starting material. The results demonstrate the usefulness of pyrocatechol for the protection of an aliphatic ketone.