An improved route to 19-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione and synthesis of its [19-2H2] analogue

Abstract

3β-Acetoxy-5-bromo-6β,19-epoxy-5α-pregnan-20-one is more reliably converted into 19-hydroxyprogesterone via reductive opening of the epoxide to give 3β-acetoxy-19-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one than by a previously published procedure. 19-Hydroxyprogesterone has been converted into its [192-H2] analogue in good yield.