A novel synthesis of 14α,15α-methylene estradiol (J 824)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0039-128X(94)00046-F

A novel approach to the synthesis of the orally active estrogen 14α,15α-methylene estradiol (8, J 824) is described, starting with 3-methoxy-estra-1,3,5(10),8,14-pentaen-17α-ol (5).The 14α,15α-methylene bridge was sonochemically introduced by regioselective and stereoselective Simmons-Smith methylenation of the 14-double bond.Birch reduction of the 8-double bond provided the desired 8β-H,9α-H steroid, whereas ionic hydrogenation afforded the 8β-H,9β-H isomer, together with an epimerization of the 17α-hydroxy group.Oxidation of the Birch product yielded the corresponding 17-oxo steroid, which gave the title compound by diborane reduction.For radioimmunoassay development the 6-(O-carboxymethyl)-oximino derivative of 8 was prepared as hapten and the 2-hydroxy derivative of 8 was synthesized as a potential metabolite of 8, and 8 was tritium labeled as well. - Keywords: estrogens; 14α,15α-methylene estradiol; steroid synthesis; hapten; tritium labeling