Addition reactions at the 16(17) double bond of 3-methoxy-13alpha-estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraene

• Published in: Steroids Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 289 - 295
• Main Authors: Mernyák, Erzsébet, Schönecker, Bruno, Lange, Corinna, Kötteritzsch, Manuela, Görls, Helmar, Wölfling, János, Schneider, Gyula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2003
• Subjects: Borohydrides - chemical synthesis; Borohydrides - chemistry; Boron Compounds - chemical synthesis; Boron Compounds - chemistry; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - chemical synthesis; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - chemistry; Bromates - chemistry; Chemistry, Organic - methods; Epoxy Compounds - chemistry; Estradiol - analogs & derivatives; Estradiol - chemical synthesis; Stereoisomerism; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0039-128X

The epoxidation, the addition of hypobromous acid, and the hydroboration of 3-methoxy-13alpha-estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraene 1 with diborane, catecholborane, and 9-BBN were investigated in order to determine the stereochemical outcome and to synthesize new 13alpha-estra-1,3,5(10)-trienes for biological and conformational investigations. It was shown that the sterically demanding reagent 9-BBN participated in a preferred beta attack (53% 16betaOH 10, 34% 17betaOH 8, 13% 16alphaOH 11). This stereochemical result is in agreement with that from another cis addition reaction, the recently described OsO4 dihydroxylation of 1 [Steroids 68 (2003) 113]. With smaller reagents such as B2H6, catecholborane, or magnesium monoperoxyphthalate, a diminished stereoselectivity was observed with only a slight excess of beta attack. The ionic trans addition of hypobromous acid gave two 17-bromo-16-alcohols with 16beta,17alpha (4, 76%) and 16alpha,17beta configuration (5, 24%) formed by trans cleavage of the 16,17alpha- and beta-bromonium ion at position 16. The same regioselective and stereoselective course was found for the cleavage of the 16alpha,17alpha- and 16beta,17beta-epoxides (3 and 2) with hydrazoic acid (3-->16betaN3,17alphaOH 7, 2-->16alphaN3,17betaOH 6). The stereochemistry of the addition reactions to 1 can be explained in terms of a twist-boat conformation involving the C ring of compound 1. From a synthetic viewpoint the synthesis of the beta-epoxide 2 from the bromohydrin 4, the cleavage of this epoxide to 16alpha-substituted-17beta-hydroxy compounds, such as 6, and hydroboration/oxidation with 9-BBN to the hitherto unknown 16beta-hydroxy compound 10 are useful procedures. The bromohydrin 5 is the first 13alpha-steroid with a 17beta-bromo substituent. X-ray analysis revealed twist-boat and 16beta-envelope conformations for rings C and D, respectively.