TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF STEROIDAL DERIVATIVES: III. SYNTHESIS OF HYDROCHRYSENE ANALOGUES AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

A synthetic sequence leading to the total synthesis of certain octahydrochrysene derivatives is described. The introduction of a ketonic function into ring B of these substances is also given and it is noted that these ketone intermediates allow entry into ring-B-modified steroidal analogues. The sequence indicates an interesting difference in the mode of reaction of cis–syn–cis and trans–anti–trans hydrochrysene analogues, which is undoubtedly due to the difference in the conformational structures of these compounds.