Development and screening of water-soluble analogues of progesterone and allopregnanolone in models of brain injury

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm900712n

Preclinical and clinical research findings have revealed that the hormone progesterone, when acutely administered, can dramatically reduce cerebral edema, inflammation, tissue necrosis, and programmed cell death following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The poor aqueous solubility of progesterone, however, limits its potential use as a therapeutic. Several chemically novel analogues of progesterone and its natural metabolite allopregnanolone have been synthesized and screened using both in vitro and whole animal models of TBI. The new derivatives demonstrated greatly improved solubility and select compounds have shown equivalent effectiveness to progesterone in reducing cerebral edema after TBI. 2009 American Chemical Society.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/jm900712n

6012 J. Med. Chem. 2009, 52, 6012–6023
DOI: 10.1021/jm900712n
Development and Screening of Water-Soluble Analogues of Progesterone and Allopregnanolone
in Models of Brain Injury
Christopher J. MacNevin,† Fahim Atif,‡ Iqbal Sayeed,‡ Donald G. Stein,‡ and Dennis C. Liotta*,†
†Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Emerson Building Room 403, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, and ‡Department of
Emergency Medicine Brain Research Laboratory, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365B Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
Received May 26, 2009
Preclinical and clinical research findings have revealed that the hormone progesterone, when acutely
administered, can dramatically reduce cerebral edema, inflammation, tissue necrosis, and programmed
cell death following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The poor aqueous solubility of progesterone,
however, limits its potential use as a therapeutic. Several chemically novel analogues of progesterone
and its natural metabolite allopregnanolone have been synthesized and screened using both in vitro and
whole animal models of TBI. The new derivatives demonstrated greatly improved solubility and select
compounds have shown equivalent effectiveness to progesterone in reducing cerebral edema after TBI.
Introduction
A growing body of evidence indicates that progesterone
(1, Scheme 1) may be a promising alternative therapeutic
candidate for the treatment of TBI.10 Progesterone is an
endogenous steroid produced by the adrenal glands and the
corpus luteum as well as by neurons and glial cells within the
central and peripheral nervous systems.11 Just as progesterone
has been associated with a variety of protective roles during
gestation, it has also been linked to several different but
mutually supportive modes of neuroprotection following
TBI, including the attenuation of cerebral edema,12 the re-
duction of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress,13 anti-
inflammatory effects,14 reduction of cellular apoptosis,15 in-
hibition of excitotoxicity,16 and assisting in the repair of
myelin.17
Traumatic brain injury (TBIa) is a significant public health
problem that affects nearly 1.5 million Americans each year,
resulting in approximately 235000 hospitalizations, 80000
cases of long-term disability, and 50000 deaths.1 An estimated
5.3 million Americans currently require long-term assistance
in performing basic activities of daily living as the result of
having suffered a TBI,2 and care related costs for the treat-
ment of TBI patients has been estimated to total nearly $60
billion annually.3 Inaddition, a recent comprehensive study of
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans reports that 19% of those
surveyed had suffered a TBI, making it one of the so-called
“signature injuries” found among soldiers returning from
duty.4
In light of the promising preclinical evidence, a phase II,
randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial was
initiated in order to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy
of intravenous progesterone administration for the treatment
of acute TBI.18 The study concluded that administration of
progesterone to brain-injured patients was safe based on the
finding that no serious adverse events were noted and that the
rates of adverse events among treatment and placebo groups
were similar. The most significant result from the study
however was that the rate of mortality among severely injured
patients treated with progesterone was reduced by over 60%
relative to the placebo group. In addition, patients in the
moderate group showed significantly better functional out-
comes at 30 days postinjury. A second single-center trial
with severely brain-injured patients in which outcomes were
studied over a 6 month period supported the results of the first
study.19
Despite several decades of effort from the scientific com-
munity, no single pharmacological agent or treatment proto-
col has been found that results in consistently improved
outcomes following TBI.5 A recent meta-analysis of studies
evaluating the effectiveness of five experimental treatments
for TBI (hyperventilation, mannitol, cerebrospinal fluid drai-
nage, barbiturates, and corticosteroids) showed that none of
the interventions reliably reduced death or disability.6 The
Corticosteroids After Significant Head Injury (CRASH) trial,
whichoriginallysoughttoutilizea populationgroupof 20000,
was terminated at just over 10000 patients as it became clear
that the treatment group (0.4 g methylprednisolone per h for
48 h) had a higher mortality rate than that of the control
group.7 Hypothermia has shown some favorable effects
among brain injured patients.8 However, clinical results using
hypothermia have been variable and the treatment is thought
to be potentially harmful to patients over the age of 45.9
Despitethe encouraging patientoutcomesobserved inthese
clinical trials, the eventual use of progesterone as a therapeutic
is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility. For human use,
the hormone had to be individually mixed with the vehicle
solution for several hours under temperature controlled con-
ditions. The resulting formulation is not stable at room
temperature for long periods of time and therefore had to be
*To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone: 404-727-
6602. Fax: 404-712-8679. E-mail: dliotta@emory.edu.
a Abbreviations: TBI, traumatic brain injury; Fmoc, 9-fluorenyl-
methyl; HCl, hydrochloride; PTSA, p-toluenesulfonic acid; MTT,
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; IP, in-
traperitoneal; SC, subcutaneous; RBF, round-bottom flask.
r
pubs.acs.org/jmc
Published on Web 09/08/2009
2009 American Chemical Society

Article
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19 6013
Figure 1. Overview of approach to the development of progesterone analogues.
Scheme 1. Enzymatic Conversion of Progesterone (1) to Allopregnanolone (2)
Scheme 2. Preparation of C-3 Amino Acid Tethered Progesterone (1) Analogues
used quickly following its preparation. The most potentially
beneficial application of progesterone for traumatic brain
injury would be to give it as soon as possible in an emergency
situation, and thus a lengthy preparation time for the treat-
ment would compromise some of its beneficial effects in
reducing the injury cascade. Access to a more highly water-
soluble progesterone analogue that would be amenable to
preformulation and long-term storage was therefore pursued.
Derivatization of 1 at either the carbon-3 (C-3) or carbon-20
(C-20) carbonyl was planned in order to examine the relative
effect of such selective modification. The progesterone me-
tabolite allopregnanolone (2, Scheme 1) has shown many of
the same neuroprotective benefits afforded by progester-
one,20 therefore the development of water-soluble allopreg-
nanolone derivatives was an additional goal of interest. One
final aim of particular priority was to develop a water-
soluble progesterone prodrug. This was thought to be po-
tentially achievable through the selective incorporation of an
oxime tether between steroid and amino acid components.
C-3 and C-20 Progesterone Derivatives. Selective reduction
of the allylic C-3 carbonyl of progesterone (1) was achieved
via the method of Luche (Scheme 2).21 The reaction was run
at low temperature and terminated after only 10 min in order
to avoid additional over-reduction of the more sterically
Results and Discussion
Chemistry. An approach to the development of novel
progesterone derived compounds was designed in order to
explore structure-activity relationships potentially arising
from several different sources (Figure 1). The fundamental
strategy chosen to enhance progesterone’s water solubility
was through the tethering of an amino acid to the compound.

6014 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19
MacNevin et al.
Scheme 3. Preparation of C-20 Valine Tethered Progesterone Analogue 11
Scheme 4. Preparation of 5R Allopregnanolone Isomer Derivatives 16 and 19
hindered C-20 carbonyl. The C-3 reduction product 3 was
then coupled with a series of different N-9-fluorenylmethyl
(Fmoc) protected amino acids to give substrates 4a-4e. The
Fmoc protecting group was subsequently removed to give
the free amines 5a-5e, which were then prepared as their
respective hydrochloride (HCl) salt (6a-6e).
Preparation of the C-20 amino acid tethered progesterone
analogue 11 began with a total reduction of 1 to give the
dihydroxyl compound 7 (Scheme 3). Allylic oxidation of 7
gave the C-20 monohydroxy derivative 8, which was then
carried forward to generate the L-valine coupled hydrochlo-
ride salt 11 through the same series of steps as had proven
successful for the C-3 derivatives.
Allopregnanolone Derivatives. Synthesis of epiallopre-
gnanolone (13, Scheme 4) was achieved by catalytic reduc-
tion of the commercially available steroid pregnenolone
(12).22 Amino acid coupling, deprotection, and salt forma-
tion proceeded as with previous analogues to give the
3β-5R allopregnanolone isomer derivative 16. Mitsunobu
inversion of the 3β-hydroxy center of 13 gave allopregna-
nolone (2) in good yield.23 Compound 2 was then prepared
as its valine coupled HCl salt to give the 3R-5R com-
pound 19.
The two 5β allopregnanolone isomers were prepared from
progesterone (Scheme 5). Hydrogenation of 1 in the presence
of hydroxides is known to provide the 5β reduction product
(20).24 Treatment of 20 with NaBH4 in methanol led to
selective reduction of the C-3 carbonyl in the presence of
the C-20 ketone.25 The reduction was selective for C-3 but
gave a 7:1 mixture of 3R-hydroxy (21) to 3β-hydroxy (22)
products. These compounds were separated by conventional
column chromatography and carried forward as in pre-
vious series to give the 3R-5β derivative 25 and 3β-5β
derivative 28.
Oxime Derivatives of Progesterone. One strategy taken
toward the development of a progesterone prodrug was to
utilize an oxime linker between the progesterone scaffold
and the solubilizing amino acid. Regioselective oximation
of progesterone was desired in order to both minimize
alteration to the molecule and to keep the final molecular
weight of the compound within the range associated with the
majority of drug-like molecules.26 A selective method for
the formation of a ketal at C-20 was found through applica-
tion of a procedure developed for C-9 ketalization of the
Wieland-Miescher ketone,27 which utilizes ethylene glycol
as solvent and a stoichiometric amount of p-toluenesulfonic
acid (PTSA). The reaction with 1 required more time
(3-5 d) than for the Wieland-Miescher ketone but never-
theless achieved exclusive ketalization at the C-20 position
(Scheme 6). The protected steroid 29 was then added to
hydroxylamine to afford a 2:1 E/Z mixture of oximes 30 and
31 that were separable by conventional chromatography and
isolated in excellent yield. Assignment of the compounds as
their respective isomer was based on characteristic polarity
1
and H and 13C chemical shifts relative to previously re-
ported oxime derivatives of progesterone.28

Article
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19 6015
Scheme 5. Preparation of 5β Allopregnanolone Isomer Derivatives 25 and 28
Scheme 6. Selective Progesterone Ketalization and Oxime Formation
Scheme 7. Preparation of Oxime Derivatives of Progesterone, Compounds 34 and 37
The oxime products 30 and 31 were each then coupled to
N-Fmoc-L-valine (32 and 35, Scheme 7). The ketal was found
to be easily removed at this point through treatment with
PTSA in acetone. The free amine products resulting from
subsequent Fmoc cleavage were however found to be
unstable when concentrated at room temperature for any
length of time. The reaction procedure was therefore mod-
ified to incorporate a low temperature workup and rapid
conversion of the free amine products into their HCl salt.
These procedural changes served to eliminate the unintended

6016 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19
MacNevin et al.
Table 1. Reduction in Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxic Cell Death in
Primary Cortical Neuron as Evaluated by MTT Assaya
reduction in cell death
(best concentration) (%)
reduction in cell
death at 5 μM (%)
compd
1
42 ( 2.9* (20 μM)
40 ( 1.8* (80 μM)
13 ( 0.84* (5 μM)
8 ( 3.4 (5 μM)
15 ( 1.5* (5 μM)
1 ( 5.8 (5 μM)
30 ( 1.5* (10 μM)
27 ( 6.8* (5 μM)
34 ( 0.2* (5 μM)
4 ( 2.5
-3 ( 4.7
13 ( 0.84*
8 ( 3.4
15 ( 1.5*
1 ( 5.8
23 ( 5.8*
27 ( 6.8*
34 ( 0.2*
2
6a
6b
6d
6e
11
34
37
a Rat primary cortical cells (E18) were pretreated with different
concentrations of test compounds for 24 h and subsequently exposed
to glutamate (0.5 μM) for 24 h. Test compounds were present in the
culture medium during glutamate exposure and were dissolved in
DMSO. Glutamate was dissolved in PBS (pH 7.4). The final concentra-
tion of DMSO was <5 μL/mL medium. Statistical analysis of data was
performed using analysis of variance followed by Dunnett’s test. The
significance of results was set at p < 0.05. Values are expressed as %
mean ( standard error of the mean. Asterisk (*) labeled values denote
significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with control glutamate
group. Values in parentheses represent the best concentrations of their
respective compounds.
Figure 2. Progesterone analogue solubilities in phosphate buf-
fered saline. Compounds with no value given showed less than
0.05 mg/mL solubility by this method.
cleavage of the amino acid side chain. Both the E oxime
prodrug compound 34 and the Z oxime derivative 37 were
isolated as white solids in good yield.
Solubility and Biological Testing Data. Solubility Data.
Several compounds were screened for solubility (Figure 2).
Compounds were added to phosphate buffered saline in
small portions at room temperature with stirring until a
visible end point of saturation was reached. Neither proges-
terone (1) nor allopregnanolone (2) showed any measurable
degree of solubility by this method. The valine coupled
3β-hydroxy progesterone derivative 6b showed the best
solubility (3.85 mg/mL) of the different amino acid substi-
tuted analogues within that series. Compound 25, the 3R-5β
allopregnanolone isomer, showed the highest solubility with-
in that group, although this was still fairly low (0.33 mg/mL).
Both the E and Z oxime derivatives 34 and 37 showed
excellent solubility, with values of 13.0 and 15.2 mg/mL,
respectively. These values far surpass the desired target of at
least 1.0 mg/mL, which would allow for facile compound
formulation in an aqueous based solution.
In Vitro Assay Data. Primary cortical cells were seeded in
multiwell plates and cultured for 8-10 days in neurobasal
medium. Cells were then pretreated with various concentra-
tions of a different progesterone analogue (0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40,
and 80 μM) for 24 h. Cells were next exposed to glutamate
(0.5 μM) for the following 24 h and cytotoxicity was assessed
using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
bromide (MTT) assay. When the concentration of a given test
compound is not considered, both progesterone (1) and allo-
pregnanolone (2) showed greater protection against cell death
than any of their analogues (Table 1). However, the concentra-
tions of these compounds required to achieve their most
significant effect were relatively high (20 μM for 1, 80 μM
for 2). When all compounds are compared at the 5 μM
concentration, several of the new derivatives showed significant
reduction in cell death, whereas the parent compounds 1 and 2
did not. Treatment of cells with the oxime derivative com-
pounds 34 and 37 achieved the highest levels of cell survival at
the 5 μM concentration among the new compounds screened.
In Vivo Cerebral Edema Assay Data. Several studies have
demonstrated that the exogenous administration of pro-
gesterone reduces cerebral edema in both male and
female rats after bilateral cortical contusions of the medial
Figure 3. Effect of compound on edema level 24 h post-TBI. Values
are expressed as mean ( SEM. Test compounds (8 mg/kg) were
administered twice; first dose IP injections after 1 h post-TBI and
second dose SC at 6 h post-TBI. At 24 h, animals were sacrificed and
brain sections were removed for edema assay. Values in parentheses
represent percent decrease in edema level compared to vehicle. The
percent water content of each sample was calculated as [(wet wt -
dry wt)/wet weight] ꢀ 100. The percent difference in water content
of the area surrounding the injury was compared to an area distal to
the injury [(contusion area - distal area/distal area) ꢀ 100].
frontal cortex.10c,10e,10f,12e A similar whole animal model of
TBI (bilateral cortical contusions of the medial frontal
cortex) was employed in order to investigate the potential
efficacy of the progesterone analogue compounds relative to
progesterone in reducing cerebral edema following injury
(Figure 3). The sham animals did not receive an injury but
served as a control group for possible anesthesia and stress
factors. The vehicle group was subjected to cortical injury
but received only the drug carrier (22.5% 2-hydroxypropyl-
β-cyclodextrine in water). The initial dose of progesterone
and analogues was given at 1 h postinjury, delivered by
intraperitoneal (IP) injection for rapid absorption. Subse-
quent injections at 6 h postinjury were given subcutane-
ously (SC). The treatment protocol was based on previous
studies in our laboratory.10g Several of the analogues
showed equivalent efficacy to progesterone (1) in the cere-
bral edema assay, including the valine tethered 3β-hydroxy
progesterone derivative 6b and the oxime based prodrug
compound 34. Compound 19, the valine coupled derivative

Article
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19 6017
of allopregnanolone, showed the greatest edema reduction
among the allopregnanolone isomer group. Perhaps most
notable was the activity of oxime derivative 37, which
showed a better average reduction in edema level compared
to progesterone.
2927, 2847, 1691, 1362, 1038 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 299.2379
([M þ H - H2O]þ, C21H31O requires 299.2369).
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, N-Fmoc-L-valine Vster (4b).
An oven-dried 50 mL RBF was charged with compound 3
(0.352 g, 1.00 mmol), N-Fmoc-L-valine (0.373 g, 1.10 mmol,
1.10 equiv), and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (0.0122 g, 0.100
mmol, 0.100 equiv). The flask was sealed, evacuated, and
inert gas flushed and 15 mL of anhydrous dichloromethane
was added, followed by addition of 1.10 mL (1.10 mmol,
1.10 equiv) of 1 M dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in dichloro-
methane. The solution was stirred overnight and then filtered
through celite. The filtrate was concentrated, prepared as a silica
cake, and eluted on a 40 g silica column with a 0-25% EtOAc in
hexanes gradient. The main product was isolated as 0.554 g
(87%) clear oil that foamed on drying. Rf = 0.40 (1:1 EtOAc/
Conclusions
Several novel analogues of progesterone (1) and its natural
metabolite allopregnanolone (2) were synthesized and
screened for solubility as well as for their potential as neuro-
protective agents. The use of an amino acid tether was shown
to be an effective method for greatly enhancing the solubility
of progesterone and other related steroidal compounds.
Several compounds have shown nearly equivalent activity to
progesterone and allopregnanolone in an in vitro assay
designed to assess their ability to enhance neuronal cell
survival. The 3β-hydroxy derivative 6b and the oxime derived
compound 37 both showed equivalent capacity relative to
progesterone for reducing cerebral edema following cranial
injury in a whole animal model of traumatic brain injury.
Future work will seek to examine the pharmacokinetic pro-
perties of these compounds as well as to further evaluate their
effectiveness through behavioral observation studies.
1
hexanes, PMA stain). H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.78 (d,
2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 7.63-7.61 (m, 2H), 7.41 (t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz),
7.33 (t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 5.35 (d, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), 5.31 (t, 1H,
J = 7.8 Hz), 5.21 (s, 1H), 4.40 (d, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 4.31 (dd, 1H,
J = 9.0, 4.2 Hz), 4.25 (t, 1H, J = 7.2 Hz), 2.52 (t, 1H, J = 9.0
Hz), 2.23-2.16 (m, 3H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 2.05-1.96 (m, 3H),
1.78-1.55 (m, 6H), 1.50-1.33 (m, 4H), 1.25-1.10 (m, 2H),
1.06 (s, 3H), 1.00 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.93 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz),
0.90-0.79 (m, 2H), 0.64 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ
209.8, 172.1, 156.5, 149.8, 144.2, 144.0, 141.5, 127.9, 127.2,
125.3, 120.2, 118.9, 118.8, 72.2, 72.1, 67.2, 63.8, 59.3, 59.2,
56.5, 54.2, 47.5, 47.4, 44.3, 39.0, 37.5, 36.0, 35.0, 33.0, 32.3,
31.6, 25.2, 24.6, 23.0, 19.2, 19.1, 19.0, 17.7, 13.6. IR (solid): 3360,
Experimental Section
2936, 1701, 1390, 1352, 1198, 740 cm-1
.
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, L-Valine Ester (5b). A 25 mL
RBF was charged with compound 4b (0.340 g, 0.533 mmol).
The flask was evacuated and inert gas flushed and 5 mL of
acetonitrile was added. Piperidine (0.527 mL, 5.33 mmol, 10.0
equiv) was added, and the solution was stirred at room tem-
perature for 30 min. The solvent was removed with addition
of toluene for complete removal of piperidine. A white solid
formed that was redissolved in a minimum amount of toluene,
loaded onto a 12 g silica column, and eluted with 0-75% EtOAc
in hexanes over 35 min. Main product containing fractions
were combined and dried to give 0.196 g (89%) white foam.
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.29-5.23 (m, 1H), 5.20 (d, 1H,
J = 1.6 Hz), 3.27 (d, 1H, J = 4.8 Hz), 2.52 (t, 1H, J = 9.2 Hz),
2.36-1.93 (m, 6H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 1.79-1.08 (m, 14H), 1.06 (s,
3H), 0.98 (d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.95-0.77 (m, 3H), 0.90 (d, 3H,
J = 6.8 Hz), 0.62 (s, 2H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.8,
175.6, 149.3, 119.3, 71.3, 63.8, 60.2, 56.4, 54.2, 44.3, 39.0, 37.5,
36.0, 35.2, 33.0, 32.3 (2 C), 31.7, 25.3, 24.6, 22.9, 21.1, 19.6, 19.0,
17.3, 13.6. IR (solid): 2934, 2843, 1724, 1705, 1384, 1354, 1166,
1146, 978, 873, 852 cm. HRMS-ESI m/z 416.3156 ([M þ H]þ,
C26H42NO3 requires 416.3159).
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, L-Valine Ester Hydrochloride
(6b). A 10 mL RBF was charged with compound 5b (0.083 g,
0.20 mmol) and the flask was evacuated and flushed with
argon. Anhydrous ether (2 mL) was added, and the solution
was chilled in an ice bath. Hydrogen chloride solution (0.10 mL
2.0 M in ether, 0.20 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was added dropwise.
A white precipitate formed in solution. The solution was stirred
for 30 min. The precipitate was filtered and washed with chilled
ether. The product was isolated as 68 mg (75%) white solid;
mp 159-161 °C. 1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.80 (bs, 2H),
5.35 (t, 1H, J = 7.8 Hz), 5.27 (s, 1H), 3.89 (d, 1H, J = 4.8 Hz),
2.53-2.46 (m, 2H), 2.23-0.78 (m, 21H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.17
(d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 1.14 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 1.06 (s, 3H),
0.64 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, 60 °C, CDCl3) δ 209.1, 168.5,
150.3, 118.6, 73.6, 64.0, 58.9, 56.7, 54.3, 44.3, 39.3, 37.7,
36.3, 35.0, 33.3, 32.5, 31.5, 30.3, 25.3, 24.7, 23.3, 21.4, 19.3,
18.7, 18.6, 13.6. IR (film): 2932, 2848, 2600, 1737, 1702, 1380,
1355, 1219, 1109 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 416.3160 ([M -
Cl]þ, C26H42NO3 requires 416.3159). Anal. (C26H42ClNO3 þ
1/2H2O) C, H, N.
General. Reaction progress was monitored via thin-layer
chromatography (TLC) on precoated glass-backed plates
˚
(silica gel 60 A F254, 0.25 mm thickness). Flash chromatography
˚
was carried out with silica gel 60 A (230-400 mesh) and
automated chromatography was performed on an Isco Combi-
flash Companion. Unless otherwise stated, organic extracts
were dried over commercially available magnesium sulfate and
the solvents were removed by rotary evaporation. Melting
points were determined with an Electrothermal melting point
apparatus and are uncorrected. 1H and 13C NMR spectra were
recorded on either a 400 or 600 MHz Varian Inova spectrometer
in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) and referenced to the residual
solvent peak (1H δ 7.27 ppm, 13C δ 77.23 ppm) unless otherwise
noted. Mass spectra were obtained on either a VG 70-S Nier
Johnson or JEOL mass spectrometer. All prepared compounds
were determined to be g95% pure, as assessed by combustion
analysis. Combustion analyses were performed by Atlantic
Microlab (Norcross, GA).
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one (3). Progesterone (3.14 g,
10.0 mmol) was added with cerium chloride heptahydrate
(3.73 g, 10.0 mmol, 1.00 equiv) to a three-necked 250 mL
round-bottomed flask (RBF) with thermometer. Methanol
(100 mL) was added under argon, and the solution was
chilled to -20 °C. Sodium borohydride (0.189 g, 5.00 mmol,
0.500 equiv) was then added in bulk. After 10 min, 37 mL of
acetone was added and the solution was warmed to ambient
temperature. Water (25 mL) was added, and the solvent volume
was reduced by approximately 100 mL. The aqueous layer was
extracted with ether. The organic layers were combined, washed
with brine, dried, filtered, and concentrated to give 3.14 g white
solid. The solid was prepared as a silica cake and eluted from a
500 mL silica column with 20-25% EtOAc in hexanes. Initially
eluting pure fractions were combined and concentrated to
give 1.56 g of white solid that was 90% pure as determined by
proton NMR (other 10% was progesterone). White solid (44%
1
yield); Rf = 0.38 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes, PMA stain). H NMR
(400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.29 (d, 1 H, J = 1.6 Hz), 4.18-4.12 (m, 1
H), 2.51 (t, 1 H, J = 8.8 Hz), 2.25-0.77 (m, 20 H), 2.11 (s, 3 H),
1.04 (s, 3 H), 0.62 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9,
147.4, 123.8, 68.1, 63.9, 56.5, 54.5, 44.3, 39.1, 37.5, 36.1, 35.6,
33.1, 32.3, 31.7, 29.6, 24.6, 22.9, 21.2, 19.1, 13.6. IR (solid): 3495,

6018 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19
MacNevin et al.
Compounds 6a-6e were prepared according to the methods
as described for compound 6b:
20(S)-Hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (8). A 100 mL RBF was
charged with crude compound 7 (1.00 g) and manganese dioxide
(5.00 g, activated by heating in oven for 2 days then cooled in a
desiccator) and the reactants were suspended in 30 mL of
chloroform. The mixture was stirred at room temperature over-
night. The mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite and
rinsed with chloroform. The clear, colorless filtrate was evapo-
rated to dryness to give an off-white solid. The solid was
recrystallized from EtOAc/hexanes to give 0.565 g (57%) white
solid; Rf = 0.26 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 5.73 (s, 1H), 3.77-3.70 (m, 1H), 2-47-0.91 (m, 21H),
1.19 (s, 3H), 1.15 (d, 3H, J = 6.0 Hz), 0.80 (s, 3H). 13C NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 199.9, 171.8, 124.0, 70.7, 58.5, 55.5, 54.0,
42.5, 39.8, 38.8, 35.9, 35.6, 34.2, 33.1, 32.2, 25.8, 24.6, 24.0, 21.1,
17.6, 12.6. IR (solid): 3525, 2939, 2864, 1670, 1609, 1117, 857
cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 317.2473 ([M þ H]þ, C21H32O2 requires
317.2475).
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, L-alanine Ester Hydrochlor-
ide (6a). White solid (52% yield); mp 112-114 °C. 1H NMR (400
MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.63 (bs, 2H), 5.25 (t, 1H, J = 7.6 Hz), 5.14 (s,
1H), 4.12 (d, 1H, J = 7.6 Hz), 2.64 (bs, 1H), 2.43 (t, 1H, J = 8.8
Hz), 2.20-0.68 (m, 21H), 2.04 (s, 3H), 1.65 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz),
0.99 (s, 3H), 0.57 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.7,
170.1, 150.1, 118.4, 73.4, 63.8, 56.4, 54.1, 49.5, 44.2, 39.0, 37.5,
36.0, 35.0, 33.0, 32.3, 31.7, 25.0, 24.6, 23.0, 21.2, 19.0, 16.4, 13.5.
IR (film): 2934, 2849, 1741, 1703, 1237, 1207, 1113, 916, 731
cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 388.2847 ([M - Cl]þ, C24H38NO3 re-
1
quires 388.2846). Anal. (C24H38ClNO3 þ /2H2O) C, H, N.
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, L-Phenylalanine Ester Hydro-
chloride (6c). White solid (51% yield); mp 148-150 °C. 1H
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.71 (bs, 2H), 7.30-7.21 (m, 5H),
5.17 (bs, 1H), 4.97 (s, 1H), 4.32 (bs, 1H), 3.47-3.29 (m, 2H), 2.48
(t, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 2.20-0.68 (m, 20H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 0.97 (s,
3H), 0.60 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.7, 168.8,
149.9, 134.2, 130.1, 129.0, 127.8, 118.2, 73.6, 63.8, 56.4, 54.5,
54.1, 44.2, 39.0, 37.4, 36.6, 36.0, 34.8, 33.0, 32.2, 31.7, 24.9, 24.6,
23.0, 21.2, 18.9, 13.6. IR (film): 2929, 2848, 1732, 1701, 1233,
1202, 1109, 912, 729, 700 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 464.3160 ([M -
Cl]þ, C30H42NO3 requires 464.3159). Anal. (C30H42ClNO3 þ
1/2H2O) C, H, N.
20(S)-Hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, N-Fmoc-L-valine Ester (9).
Prepared according to the method described for compound 4b.
White foam (87% yield); Rf = 0.65 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). H
1
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.77 (d, 2H, J = 8.0 Hz), 7.62 (d, 2H,
J = 7.6 Hz), 7.42-7.37 (m, 2H), 7.33 (t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 5.71 (s,
1H), 5.41 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 4.97-4.90 (m, 1H), 4.48-4.16 (m,
4H), 2.43-0.80 (m, 21H), 1.20 (d, 3H, J = 6.0 Hz), 1.08 (s, 3H),
0.99 (d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.94 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.67 (s, 3H).
13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 200.0, 171.8, 171.7, 156.4, 144.2,
143.9, 141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.3, 124.0, 120.2, 74.4, 67.3, 59.2,
55.4, 55.0, 53.9, 47.4, 42.4, 39.1, 38.7, 35.7, 35.6, 34.1, 33.0, 32.1,
31.5, 25.6, 24.4, 21.1, 20.0, 19.1, 17.8, 17.4, 12.7. IR (solid): 3307,
2935, 1716, 1668, 1229, 1029, 739 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
638.3847 ([M þ H]þ, C41H52NO5 requires 638.3840).
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, L-Proline Ester Hydrochlo-
ride (6d). White solid (38% yield); mp 130-131. 1H NMR
(400 MHz, DMSO) δ 10.32 (bs, 1H), 9.02 (bs, 1H), 5.26 (s,
1H), 5.22 (s, 1H), 4.33 (s, 1H), 3.40 (s, 1H), 3.20 (d, 2H, J = 7.2
Hz), 2.56 (t, 1H, J = 8.6 Hz), 2.30-0.73 (m, 23H), 2.05 (s, 3H),
1.02 (s, 3H), 0.54 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.6,
168.9, 150.6, 118.0, 74.1, 63.8, 59.5, 56.4, 54.0, 46.6, 44.2, 38.9,
37.5, 35.9, 34.8, 33.0, 32.6, 31.7, 29.4, 25.1, 24.5, 24.0, 22.9, 21.1,
19.0, 13.5. IR (film): cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 414.3005 ([M -
Cl]þ, C26H40NO3 requires 414.3003). Anal. (C26H40ClNO3 þ
1/2H2O) C, H, N.
20(S)-Hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, L-Valine Ester (10). Pre-
pared according to the method described for compound 5b.
White powdery solid (40% yield); Rf = 0.06 (1:1 EtOAc/
hexanes). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.72 (s, 1H),
4.93-4.86 (m, 1H), 3.23 (d, 1H, J = 4.4 Hz), 2.46-2.23 (m,
5H), 2.10-0.80 (m, 18H), 1.17 (s, 3H), 1.16 (d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz),
0.98 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.88 (d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.68 (s, 3H).
13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 199.8, 175.1, 171.5, 124.0, 73.4,
59.9, 55.4, 55.1, 54.0, 42.5, 39.2, 38.8, 35.9, 35.6, 34.2, 33.0, 32.2
(2 C), 25.6, 24.4, 21.1, 20.0, 19.5, 17.6, 17.1, 12.7. IR (film): 2933,
1721, 1672, 1381, 1187, 1071, 864 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
416.3156 ([M þ H]þ, C26H42NO3 requires 416.3159).
3β-Hydroxy-pregn-4-en-20-one, L-Tryptophan Ester Hydro-
chloride (6e). White solid (43% yield); mp 118-120 °C. 1H
NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 11.1 (bs, 1H), 8.62 (bs, 2H), 7.53
(d, 1H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.36 (d, 1H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.24 (s, 1H), 7.08 (t,
1H, J = 7.4 Hz), 6.99 (t, 1H, J = 7.4 Hz), 5.07 (bs, 1H), 4.73 (s,
1H), 4.14 (bs, 1H), 3.46-3.20 (m, 2H), 2.54 (t, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz),
2.20-0.67 (m, 20H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 0.95 (s, 3H), 0.53 (s, 3H). 13
C
NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.7, 169.3, 150.3, 136.4, 126.9,
126.6, 122.0, 119.3, 118.5, 118.1, 112.1, 105.9, 74.1, 63.8, 56.4,
54.0, 53.6, 44.2, 39.0, 37.5, 35.9, 34.7, 33.0, 32.3, 31.7, 26.1, 25.0,
24.6, 23.0, 21.1, 19.0, 13.6. IR (film): 2929, 2849, 1732, 1701,
1456, 1435, 1354, 1218, 1108, 730 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
503.3271 ([M - Cl]þ, C32H43N2O3 requires 503.3268). Anal.
20(S)-Hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, L-Valine Ester Hydrochlo-
ride (11). Prepared according to the method described for
compound 6b. Off-white solid (59% yield); mp 133-135 °C.
1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.51 (bs 2H), 5.63 (s, 1H), 4.86
(q, 1H, J = 10.0, 5.6 Hz), 3.79 (bs 1H), 2.46-0.82 (m, 23H), 1.15
(d, 3H, J = 6.0 Hz), 1.14 (s, 3H), 0.99 (d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz), 0.95
(d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz), 0.66 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ
199.8, 171.5, 168.2, 124.0, 76.0, 58.6, 55.5, 54.8, 54.0, 42.5, 39.2,
38.8, 35.9, 35.6, 34.2, 33.0, 32.2, 30.1, 25.5, 24.3, 21.1, 19.9, 18.6,
18.5, 17.6, 12.7. IR (solid): 2935, 2870, 1733, 1667, 1378, 1331,
1228, 1071, 863 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 416.3152 ([M - Cl]þ,
C26H42NO3 requires 416.3159). Anal. (C26H42ClNO3 þ H2O)
C, H, N.
3β-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one (13). An oven-dried 500 mL
RBF was charged with 10% palladium on carbon (0.400 g) and
compound 12 (4.00 g, 12.6 mmol) and the flask was evacuated
and flushed with argon. Absolute ethanol (200 mL) was added,
and the flask was flushed with hydrogen. The reaction was
stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The mixture was filtered
through celite, and the recovered filtrate was concentrated to
reveal a white solid of mass 4.08 g. The solid was recrystallized
from hexanes/EtOAc (∼3:1 total 175 mL) to give 3.19 g of
white solid. A second recrystallization provided an additional
0.43 g for a total of 3.62 g (90%) white crystalline solid; Rf =
0.38 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes, PMA). 1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ
3.62-3.57 (m, 1H), 2.52 (t, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), 2.18-1.97 (m, 2H),
2.11 (s, 3H), 1.83-0.86 (m, 20H), 0.81 (s, 3H), 0.71-0.65
3
(C32H43ClN2O3 þ /4H2O) C, H, N.
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-diol (20S) (7). An oven-dried RBF was
charged with 25 mL of anhydrous THF and chilled in an ice
bath. Lithium aluminum hydride (4.50 mL 2.0 M in THF, 9.00
mmol, 2.25 equiv) was added. A separate ∼10 mL solution of
progesterone (1.26 g, 4.00 mmol) in anhydrous THF was pre-
pared in a dry flask. The solution was transferred to the reaction
flask dropwise over 30 min. The mixture was heated under reflux
for 1 h, cooled to room temperature, and quenched by the
addition of EtOAc, followed by aqueous sodium sulfate. Solid
sodium sulfate was added to remove excess water. The remain-
ing salts were filtered and washed with THF. The organic
filtrates were combined and concentrated to give 1.24 g (90%)
white crystalline solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.27 (d,
1H, J = 0.8 Hz), 4.19-4.10 (m, 1H), 3.76-3.68 (m, 1H),
2.24-0.71 (m, 22H), 1.13 (d, 3H, J = 6.0 Hz), 1.05 (s, 3H),
0.77 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 147.7, 123.6, 70.7,
68.1, 58.6, 55.8, 54.6, 42.6, 40.1, 37.5, 35.9, 35.6, 33.3, 32.4, 29.7,
25.8, 24.6, 23.8, 21.1, 19.1, 12.7. IR (solid): 3300, 2920, 2865,
1435, 1375, 1021, 853 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 301.2524 ([M þ H
- H2O]þ, C21H33O requires 301.2526).

Article
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19 6019
(m, 1H), 0.60 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 210.0,
71.5, 64.0, 56.9, 54.4, 45.0, 44.5, 39.3, 38.3, 37.2, 35.7 (2C), 32.2,
31.7 (2C), 28.8, 24.6, 23.0, 21.5, 13.7, 12.5. IR (solid): 3426, 3375,
2930, 2845, 1697, 1682, 1385, 1036 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
319.2629 ([M þ H]þ, C21H35O2 requires 319.2632).
1.46 g (92%) white solid. Rf = 0.38 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes, PMA).
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 4.06-4.04 (m, 1H), 2.53 (t, 1H,
J = 9.2 Hz), 2.19-1.96 (m, 2H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 1.73-0.74 (m,
21H), 0.78 (s, 3H), 0.60 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ
210.1, 66.7, 64.0, 56.9, 54.4, 44.5, 39.3 (2C), 36.3, 36.0, 35.7, 32.4,
32.1, 31.8, 29.2, 28.6, 24.6, 22.9, 21.0, 13.7, 11.4. IR (solid): 3252,
2913, 2850, 1706, 1446, 1351, 1004 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
319.2633 ([M þ H]þ, C21H35O2 requires 319.2632).
3β-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one, N-Fmoc-L-valine Ester (14).
Prepared according to the method described for compound 4b.
White foam (90% yield); Rf = 0.69 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). H
1
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.78 (d, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.61 (d, 2H,
J = 6.8 Hz), 7.41 (t, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.33 (t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz),
5.34 (d, 1H, J = 9.2 Hz), 4.83-4.73 (m, 1H), 4.49-4.20 (m, 4H),
2.52 (m, 1H), 2.23-0.66 (m, 23H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 0.98 (d, 3H, J =
3r-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one, N-Fmoc-L-valine Ester (17).
Prepared according to the method described for compound 4b.
White foam (87% yield); Rf = 0.65 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes, PMA
stain). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.78 (d, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz),
7.64 (d, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.42 (t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 7.33 (t, 2H,
J = 7.2 Hz), 5.37 (d, 1H, J = 8.4 Hz), 5.13 (s, 1H), 4.46-4.33 (m,
3H), 4.27 (t, 1H, J = 7.2 Hz), 2.49-0.68 (m, 24H), 2.09 (s, 3H),
1.02 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.95 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.79 (s, 3H),
0.58 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 210.0, 171.7, 156.5,
144.2/143.9, 141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.4, 120.2, 71.7, 67.3, 63.9,
59.3, 56.7, 54.3, 47.5, 44.4, 40.2, 39.1, 35.9, 35.5, 33.2, 33.0, 31.8
(2C), 31.7, 28.3, 26.3, 24.5, 22.9, 21.0, 19.3, 17.7, 13.6, 11.5. IR
6.8 Hz), 0.92 (d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.83 (s, 3H), 0.61 (s, 3H). 13
C
NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9, 171.8, 156.4, 144.1/144.0,
141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.3, 120.2, 75.0, 67.2, 64.0, 59.2, 56.7, 54.1,
47.4, 44.8, 44.4, 39.2, 36.9, 35.7, 35.6, 34.1, 32.1, 31.8, 31.6, 28.6,
27.6, 24.6, 23.0, 21.4, 19.1, 17.7, 13.7, 12.4. IR (solid): 3344,
2931, 1701, 1449, 1200, 739 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 640.3979
([M þ H]þ, C41H54NO5 requires 640.3983).
3β-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester (15). Prepared
according to the method described for compound 5b. Clear/white
semisolid (99% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 4.77-4.65
(m, 1H), 3.26 (d, 1H, J = 4.4 Hz), 2.87 (bs, 2H), 2.51 (t, 1H, J =
9.2 Hz), 2.36-0.62 (m, 23H), 2.09 (s, 3H), 0.96 (d, 3H, J = 7.2
Hz), 0.88 (d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz), 0.81 (s, 3H), 0.58 (s, 3H). 13C NMR
(150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 210.0, 174.7, 74.4, 64.0, 59.7, 56.8, 54.2,
44.8, 44.4, 39.2, 36.9, 35.7, 35.6, 34.2, 32.2, 32.1, 31.8, 28.6, 27.6,
24.6, 23.0, 21.4, 19.3, 17.4, 13.7, 12.4. IR (solid): 2927, 2849, 1729,
1703, 1385, 1358, 1224, 1006 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 418.3310
([M þ H]þ, C26H44NO3 requires 418.3316).
(film): 3364, 2931, 1698, 1387, 1353, 1232, 1036, 739 cm-1
.
HRMS-ESI m/z 640.3989 ([M þ H]þ, C41H54NO5 requires
640.3988).
3r-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester (18). A 25 mL
RBF was charged with compound 17 (0.320 g, 0.500 mmol),
5 mL ACN, and 3 mL of DMF. Piperidine (0.494 mL, 5.00
mmol, 10.0 equiv) was added. The solution was stirred at room
temperature for 30 min. Toluene was added and the solution was
concentrated 3 times with addition of toluene. The pale-amber
oil was loaded in a minimum amount of toluene onto a 12 g
silica column. The column was eluted with 0-100% EtOAc in
hexanes over 40 min. Main product fractions were combined to
3β-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester Hydrochlo-
ride (16). Compound 15 (0.317 g, 0.759 mmol) was dissolved
in ∼2:1 anhydrous ether/CH2Cl2 (6 mL total) under argon. The
solution was chilled in an ice bath and 0.759 mL (0.759 mmol,
1.0 equiv) 1 M HCl in ether solution was added slowly dropwise.
A white precipitate was observed in solution. The solution was
stirred at 0 °C for 30 min and then filtered. The precipitate was
washed with ice chilled ether. The product was recovered as
0.175 g (51%) slightly off-white solid; mp 185-187 °C. 1H NMR
(400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.55 (bs, 1H), 4.80-4.69 (m, 1H), 3.80 (s,
1H), 3.37 (s, 1H), 2.56 (t, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 2.22-2.12 (m, 1H),
2.08-0.65 (m, 23H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 0.98 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.93
(d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.79 (s, 3H), 0.50 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100
MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9, 167.9, 76.3, 63.9, 58.6, 56.7, 54.2, 44.8,
44.4, 39.1, 36.9, 35.6, 35.5, 33.9, 32.1, 31.8, 30.1, 28.6, 27.4, 24.6,
22.9, 21.4, 18.5, 18.4, 13.6, 12.4. IR (solid): 3369, 2927, 2850,
2620, 1732, 1703, 1382, 1359, 1222, 1002 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
418.3316 ([M - Cl]þ, C26H44NO3 requires 418.3316). Anal.
(C26H44ClNO3) C, H.
Allopregnanolone (2). An oven-dried 100 mL RBF with
magnetic stir bar was charged with compound 13 (1.59 g, 5.00
mmol) and 15 mL of anhydrous THF. Diethylazodicarboxylate
(2.85 mL 40% soln in toluene, 6.25 mmol, 1.25 equiv) was
added, followed by trifluoroacetic acid (0.482 mL, 6.25 mmol,
1.25 equiv), and the flask was set in a room temperature water
bath. To this pale-amber suspension was added triphenyl-
phosphine (1.64 g, 6.25 mmol, 1.25 equiv). Sodium benzoate
(0.901 g, 6.25 mmol, 1.25 equiv) was then added and the
suspension was stirred under argon for 24 h at room tempera-
ture. The THF was completely removed with methanol addi-
tion/evaporation. Methanol (20 mL) was then added. The flask
was fitted with a drying tube topped condenser and set for
reflux. After 24 h, the methanol was removed and the remaining
solid was redissolved in CH2Cl2. The organic layer was washed
with water (3 ꢀ 20 mL). The aqueous layers were combined and
extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic layers were combined,
dried, filtered, and concentrated to give a white solid. The solid
was prepared as a silica cake and eluted with 0-35% EtOAc in
hexanes on a 120 g silica column over 40 min. Main product
containing fractions were combined and concentrated to give
1
give 0.196 g of (94%) sticky white solid. H NMR (600 MHz,
CDCl3) δ 5.09 (t, 1H, J = 2.4 Hz), 3.89 (bs, 2H), 3.37 (d, 1H, J =
4.8 Hz), 2.52 (t, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), 2.19-0.76 (m, 23H), 2.11 (s,
3H), 1.01 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz), 0.93 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz), 0.80 (s,
3H), 0.61 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 210.0, 174.6,
70.9, 64.0, 59.7, 56.9, 54.3, 44.4, 40.3, 39.2, 36.0, 35.6, 33.2, 33.0,
32.2, 32.0, 31.7, 28.4, 26.4, 24.5, 23.0, 21.0, 19.4, 17.3, 13.7, 11.5.
IR (solid): 2931, 2856, 1724, 1701, 1388, 1356, 1227, 1153, 975
cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 418.3306 ([M þ H]þ, C26H44NO3 re-
quires 418.3302).
3r-Hydroxy-5r-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester Hydrochlo-
ride (19). Prepared according to the method described for com-
pound 6b. Slightly off-white solid (55% yield); mp 123-124 °C.
1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.56 (bs, 1H), 5.06 (s, 1H), 3.84
(s, 1H), 2.59-0.66 (m, 26H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.02 (d, 3H, J = 7.2
Hz), 0.96 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz), 0.77 (s, 3H), 0.51 (s, 3H). 13C
NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9, 168.3, 73.2, 64.0, 58.7, 56.8,
54.2, 44.4, 40.2, 39.1, 35.9, 35.6, 33.2, 32.8, 31.9, 31.7, 30.2, 28.3,
26.2, 24.5, 23.0, 21.0, 18.6, 18.4, 13.6, 11.6. IR (film): 2927, 2852,
2620, 1733, 1702, 1382, 1353, 1226, 1155, 974 cm-1. HRMS-ESI
m/z 418.3314 ([M - Cl]þ, C26H44NO3 requires 418.3316). Anal.
1
(C26H44ClNO3 þ /4H2O) C, H.
5β-Pregnan-3,20-dione (20). A three-necked 500 mL RBF was
charged with progesterone (2.00 g, 6.36 mmol), 5% Pd/CaCO3
(0.180 g, 9% w/w), 200 mL absolute ethanol, and KOH (0.360 g
in 1 mL DI). The flask was evacuated and flushed with hydrogen
and the reaction stirred for 1 h. The ethanol was removed and
the residue was redissolved in ether and washed with water. The
water layer was extracted with ether (2 ꢀ 50 mL). The aqueous
layer was then acidified to pH < 3 with 1 M HCl and extracted
with ether. The organic layers were combined, dried, filtered,
and concentrated to give an off-white solid of mass 2.08 g. The
sample was loaded in a minimum amount of toluene onto a 120 g
silica column and eluted with 0-35% ea in hex gradient. The
main product was recovered as 1.20 g (60%) white solid; Rf =
0.51 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 2.69
(t, 1H, J = 15 Hz), 2.55 (t, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), 2.34 (dt, 1H, J =
14.4, 5.4 Hz), 2.21-1.09 (m, 20H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.02 (s, 3H), 0.64

6020 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19
MacNevin et al.
(s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 213.3, 209.7, 64.0,
56.8, 44.5, 44.4, 42.5, 40.9, 39.3, 37.4, 37.1, 35.7, 35.1, 31.8, 26.7,
25.9, 24.6, 23.1, 22.8, 21.4, 13.6. IR (film): 2931, 2852, 1716,
1698, 1439, 1352 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 317.2473 ([M þ H]þ,
C21H33O2 requires 317.2475).
27.0, 26.8, 26.4, 24.6, 23.4 (2C), 23.0, 21.0, 18.6, 18.5, 13.6. IR
(solid): 2929, 2866, 2600, 1737, 1702, 1379, 1356, 1194, 979
cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 418.3311 ([M - Cl]þ, C26H44NO3 re-
1
quires 418.3316). Anal. (C26H44ClNO3 þ /4H2O) C, H, N.
3β-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one, N-Fmoc-L-valine Ester (26).
Prepared according to the method described for compound 4b.
White foam (73% yield); Rf = 0.66 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). H
3-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (21/22). A 250 mL RBF was
charged with compound 20 (1.00 g, 3.16 mmol) and 40 mL
absolute ethanol. The solution was warmed in an oil bath to
50 °C and sodium borohydride (0.179 g, 4.74 mmol, 1.50 equiv)
was added. The reaction was stirred for 10 min and 75-100 mL
of hot water was added until a slight cloudiness remained in
solution. The solution was then allowed to cool gradually to
room temperature and chilled in a 4 °C freezer for 3 h. The
mixture was filtered, and the white solid was washed with 30%
ethanol in DI. After drying, the recovered solids were loaded in
a minimum amount of DCM onto a 120 g silica column and
eluted with 0-25% EA/hex over 60 min. Main product contain-
ing fractions were combined and concentrated to give 0.710 g
(71%) 3R-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (21) and 0.110 g (11%)
3β-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one isomer (22). Major product
(21): white solid (71% yield); Rf = 0.30 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes).
1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 3.67-3.62 (m, 1H), 2.53 (t, 1H,
J = 9.6 Hz), 2.18-0.96 (m, 23H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 0.92 (s, 3H), 0.59
(s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 210.0, 71.9, 64.1, 56.9,
44.5, 42.2, 40.6, 39.4, 36.6, 36.0, 35.5, 34.8, 31.8, 30.7, 27.3,
26.6, 24.6, 23.5, 23.1, 21.0, 13.6. IR (film): 3391, 2927, 2847,
1702, 1352, 1040 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 319.2638 ([M þ H]þ,
C21H35O2 requires 319.2632). Minor product (22): white solid
1
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.77 (d, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.62 (d, 2H,
J = 7.2 Hz), 7.41 (t, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.32 (dt, 2H, J = 7.6, 1.2
Hz), 5.36 (d, 1H, J = 9.2 Hz), 5.19 (s, 1H), 4.50-4.28 (m, 3H),
4.24 (t, 1H, J = 7.2 Hz), 2.57-0.84 (m, 24H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.00
(d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.98 (s, 3H), 0.93 (d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz), 0.61
(s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.8, 171.7, 156.5,
144.1/144.0, 141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.3, 120.2, 72.3, 67.2, 64.0,
59.2, 56.9, 47.4, 44.5, 40.1, 39.4, 37.7, 35.8, 35.1, 31.8, 31.7, 31.0,
30.8, 26.6, 26.3, 25.2, 24.6, 24.1, 23.0, 21.3, 19.2, 17.7, 13.6. IR
(solid): 3335, 2930, 2870, 1700, 1448, 1202, 1020, 739 cm-1
.
HRMS-ESI m/z 640.3997 ([M þ H]þ, C41H54NO5 requires
640.3997).
3β-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester (27). Prepared
according to the method described for compound 5b. White foam
(93% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.15 (s, 1H), 3.34 (d,
1H, J = 4.8 Hz), 2.54 (t, 1H, J = 9.2 Hz), 2.20-0.86 (m, 25H),
2.11 (s, 3H), 1.00 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.97 (s, 3H), 0.91 (d, 3H,
J = 6.8 Hz), 0.60 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9,
174.8, 71.4, 64.1, 60.1, 56.9, 44.6, 40.1, 39.4, 37.7, 35.8, 35.1, 32.3,
31.8, 31.0, 30.8, 26.6, 26.3, 25.3, 24.6, 24.1, 23.0, 21.3, 19.5, 17.3,
13.6. IR (film): 2929, 2868, 1723, 1703, 1447, 1385, 1357, 1152,
1019 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 418.3312 ([M þ H]þ, C26H44NO3
requires 418.3316).
3β-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester Hydrochlo-
ride (28). Prepared according to the method described for com-
pound 6b. Slightly off-white solid (39% yield); mp 200-201 °C.
1H NMR (600 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.47 (bs, 1H), 5.13 (s, 1H), 3.86
(s, 1H), 2.56 (t, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), 2.22-2.14 (m, 1H), 2.08-0.84
(m, 23H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.01 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz), 0.95 (d, 3H, J =
6.4 Hz), 0.94 (s, 3H), 0.51 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3)
δ 209.8, 168.1, 74.0, 64.1, 58.8, 57.0, 44.5, 40.1, 39.4, 37.6, 35.8,
35.1, 31.8, 30.9, 30.6, 30.3, 26.5, 26.3, 25.1, 24.6, 24.0, 23.1, 21.3,
18.7, 18.4, 13.7. IR (film): 2928, 2865, 2620, 1734, 1703, 1378,
1354, 1224, 1154, 1019 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 418.3312 ([M -
Cl]þ, C26H44NO3 requires 418.3316). Anal. (C26H44ClNO3 þ
1/4H2O) C, H, N.
1
(11% yield); Rf = 0.41 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). H NMR (400
MHz, CDCl3) δ 4.12 (t, 1H, J = 2.8 Hz), 2.53 (t, 1H, J = 9.2
Hz), 2.20-1.00 (m, 23H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 0.96 (s, 3H), 0.60 (s, 3H).
13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 210.0, 67.2, 64.1, 57.0, 44.6,
39.9, 39.5, 36.7, 35.8, 35.4, 33.7, 31.8, 30.1, 28.0, 26.7, 26.4, 24.6,
24.1, 23.0, 21.3, 13.7. IR (film): 3330, 2924, 2871, 1701, 1352,
1032 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 319.2636 ([M þ H]þ, C21H35O2
requires 319.2632).
3r-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one, N-Fmoc-L-valine Ester (23).
Prepared according to the method described for compound 4b.
White foam (81% yield); Rf = 0.66 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). H
1
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.78 (d, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 7.63 (t, 2H,
J = 6.4 Hz), 7.41 (dt, 2H, J = 7.6, 1.6 Hz), 7.33 (t, 2H, 7.6 Hz),
5.32 (d, 1H, J = 9.2 Hz), 4.87-4.78 (m, 1H), 4.48 (dd, 1H, J =
10.4, 6.4 Hz), 4.38-4.20 (m, 3H), 2.49-0.86 (m, 24H), 2.09 (s,
3H), 1.00 (d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.94 (d, 2H, J = 8.0 Hz), 0.93 (s,
3H), 0.58 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.9, 171.7,
156.5, 144.2/143.8, 141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.4, 125.3, 120.2, 75.6,
67.2, 64.0, 59.3, 56.7, 47.4, 44.4, 42.0, 40.5, 39.3, 35.9, 35.1, 34.8,
32.3, 31.8, 31.5, 27.0, 26.9, 26.4, 24.6, 23.4, 23.0, 21.0, 19.2, 17.8,
13.6. IR (film): 3335, 2931, 2868, 1700, 1448, 1194, 1022, 740
cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 640.3993 ([M þ H]þ, C41H54NO5 re-
quires 640.3997).
3r-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester (24). Prepared
according to the method described for compound 5b; white foam
(97% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 4.84-4.72 (m, 1H),
3.26 (d, 1H, J = 4.8 Hz), 2.54 (t, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 2.18-0.85 (m,
25H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 0.99 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.94 (s, 3H), 0.91 (d,
3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.60 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ
209.9, 174.9, 74.9, 64.1, 60.0, 56.9, 44.5, 42.0, 40.6, 39.4, 36.0, 35.1,
34.8, 32.4, 32.2, 31.8, 27.1, 26.9, 26.5, 24.6, 23.5, 23.0, 21.0, 19.5,
17.3, 13.6. IR (film): 2929, 2867, 1726, 1703, 1384, 1357, 1174, 988
cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 418.3310 ([M þ H]þ, C26H44NO3 requires
418.3316).
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, Cyclic 20-(Ethylene Acetal) (29). Pro-
gesterone (3.46 g, 11.0 mmol) and ethylene glycol (110 mL, 1.98
mol, 180 equiv) were added to a 250 mL RBF. Activated
˚
powdered 4 A molecular sieves (1.98 g) were added, followed
by PTSA (2.09 g, 11.0 mmol, 1.00 equiv), and the reaction was
stirred at room temperature for 5 d. Ether and saturated sodium
bicarbonate were added. The aqueous phase was extracted with
ether. The organic layers were combined and washed again with
saturated sodium bicarbonate. The organic phase was sepa-
rated, magnesium sulfate was added to the point of free-flowing,
and the solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. The
solution was filtered and concentrated, and the resulting white
solid was loaded in a minimum amount of CH2Cl2 onto a 120 g
silica column and eluted with 0-30% EtOAc in hexanes over
45 min. The desired C-20 ketal was recovered as 3.20 g (81%)
1
white solid; Rf = 0.38 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes, PMA stain). H
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 5.72 (s, 1 H), 4.03-3.84 (m, 4 H),
2.48-2.22 (m, 4 H), 2.15-1.98 (m, 2 H), 1.88-1.37 (m, 9 H),
1.29 (s, 3 H), 1.24-1.12 (m, 2 H), 1.18 (s, 3 H), 1.09-0.88 (m, 3
H), 0.81 (s, 3 H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 199.9, 171.8,
124.0, 112.0, 65.4, 63.4, 58.3, 55.9, 53.9, 42.0, 39.4, 38.8, 35.9,
35.3, 34.2, 33.1, 32.1, 24.8, 23.9, 23.1, 21.0, 17.6, 13.1. IR (solid):
3r-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one, L-Valine Ester Hydrochlo-
ride (25). Prepared according to the method described for
1
compound 6b. White solid (71% yield); mp 152-154 °C. H
2937, 2882, 1668, 1621, 1437, 1372, 1228, 1051, 1040, 862, cm-1
.
NMR (600 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.58 (bs, 1H), 4.79 (s, 1H), 3.79 (s,
1H), 2.58 (t, 1H, J = 9.0 Hz), 2.42-0.82 (m, 25H), 2.05 (s, 3H),
1.00 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.95 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz), 0.91 (s, 3H),
0.50 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.8, 168.0, 64.0,
58.7, 56.7, 44.5, 42.1, 40.6, 39.3, 36.0, 35.1, 34.8, 32.2, 31.7, 30.1,
HRMS-ESI m/z 359.2577 ([M þ H]þ, C23H35O3 requires
359.2581).
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, Cyclic 20-(Ethylene Acetal), 3-Oxime
(30/31). Hydroxylamine HCl (2.78 g, 40.0 mmol, 4.00 equiv) was

Article
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19 6021
added to a 100 mL oven-dried RBF with 15 mL of anhydrous
CH2Cl2. Triethylamine (6.97 mL, 50.0 mmol, 5.00 equiv) was
added, and the mixture was stirred for 45 min. Compound 29
(3.58 g, 10.0 mmol) was dissolved in 20 mL of anhydrous
CH2Cl2 and added quickly dropwise to the reaction mixture.
The reaction was stirred for 24 h at room temp. The solution was
quenched with the addition of water. The organic layer was
washed with water. The aqueous washes were combined and
extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic layers were combined,
dried, filtered, and concentrated with 10 g silica. The silica cake
was eluted with a 0-25% EtOAc in hexanes gradient over
60 min on a 120 g silica column. The main products were
recovered as 2.23 g (60%) E oxime and 1.33 g (36%) Z oxime,
both as white solids. E isomer (30): Rf = 0.48 (1:1 EtOAc/
hexanes). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.57 (bs, 1H), 5.77 (s,
1H), 4.03-3.84 (m, 4H), 3.08-3.02 (m, 1H), 2.35-0.77 (m,
19H), 1.30 (s, 3H), 1.06 (s, 3H), 0.80 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100
MHz, CDCl3) δ 157.3, 156.0, 117.3, 112.1, 65.4, 63.4, 58.4, 56.1,
53.9, 42.0, 39.6, 38.1, 35.5, 34.8, 32.7, 32.3, 24.8, 24.0, 23.1,
21.3, 18.9, 18.0, 13.1. IR (solid): 3434, 2934, 2885, 1626, 1435,
1219, 1163, 1053 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 374.2677 ([M þ H]þ,
C23H36NO3 requires 374.2690). Z isomer (31): Rf = 0.38 (1:1
EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.44 (bs, 1H),
6.47 (d, 1H, J = 1.2 Hz), 4.03-3.84 (m, 4H), 2.40-0.78 (m,
20H), 1.30 (s, 3H), 1.10 (s, 3H), 0.80 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100
MHz, CDCl3) δ 160.0, 154.2, 112.1, 110.3, 65.4, 63.4, 58.3, 56.0,
54.1, 42.1, 39.5, 39.1, 36.4, 35.4, 33.2, 32.6, 24.9, 24.8, 23.9,
23.1, 21.2, 18.3, 13.2. IR (solid): 3403, 2936, 2870, 1626, 1434,
1218, 1150, 1052 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 374.2677 ([M þ H]þ,
C23H36NO3 requires 374.2690).
19.1, 18.1, 17.8, 13.5. HRMS-ESI m/z 651.3799 ([M þ H]þ,
C41H51N2O5 requires 651.3793).
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 3-O-(L-valine)-E-oxime Hydrochlo-
ride (34). Oxime compound 33 (0.260 g, 0.400 mmol) was added
to an oven-dried 50 mL RBF and the flask was evacuated and
inert gas flushed. Anhydrous ACN (20 mL) was added, and the
clear colorless solution was chilled to 0 °C. Freshly distilled
piperidine (0.395 mL, 4.00 mmol, 10.0 equiv) was added, and the
solution was stirred and allowed to gradually equilibrate to
room temperature over 30 min. The reaction was concentrated
with added toluene to give a clear oil. The oil was loaded neat
with minimum CH2Cl2 rinse onto a 12 g silica column and eluted
with 0-80% EtOAc in hexanes over 40 min. Main product
containing fractions were combined and concentrated by rotary
evaporation at 10 °C. After being brought to complete dryness
and redissolved in 10 mL of EtOAc, the sample was concen-
trated and dried under high vacuum while being chilled in an
ice bath. Anhydrous ether was added, and the clear colorless
solution was allowed to cool to 0 °C. HCl ether solution (0.195
mL, 2.0 M. 1.0 equiv) was added dropwise to the rapidly stirring
solution. The mixture was stirred for 15 min at 0 °C, and the
resulting white precipitate was filtered and washed with ice
chilled anhydrous ether. White solid (67% yield, two steps);
mp 144-146 °C; Rf = 0.25 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes, PMA). 1H
NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.71 (bs, 2H), 5.90 (s, 1H), 4.00 (bs,
1H), 3.53 (bs, 1H), 3.03 (d, 1H, J = 16.8 Hz), 2.56 (t, 1H, J = 9.0
Hz), 2.40-0.79 (m, 20H), 2.06 (s, 3H), 1.05 (s, 3H), 1.02 (d, 3H,
J = 6.8 Hz), 0.96 (d, 3H, J = 6.8 Hz), 0.56 (s, 3H). 13C NMR
(150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.6, 166.5, 164.8, 162.5, 115.9, 63.7, 58.4,
56.3, 53.6, 44.1, 38.9, 38.3, 35.8, 34.5, 33.0, 32.2, 31.8, 30.3, 24.6,
23.0, 21.5, 19.2, 18.4, 17.9, 15.3, 13.5. IR (solid): 2933, 2874,
2648, 1760, 1699, 1627, 1377, 1358, 1185, 847 cm-1. HRMS-ESI
m/z 429.3109 ([M - Cl]þ, C26H41N2O3 requires 429.3112). Anal.
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, Cyclic 20-(Ethylene Acetal), 3-O-
(N-Fmoc-L-valine)-E-oxime (32). Prepared according to the
method described for compound 4b. Clear oil that foamed on
drying (99% yield); Rf = 0.54 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR
(600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.77 (d, 2H, J = 7.8 Hz), 7.61 (dd, 2H, J =
7.2, 3.0 Hz), 7.42-7.39 (m, 2H), 7.32 (t, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 5.98 (s,
1H), 5.46 (d, 1H, J = 9.6 Hz), 4.44-4.40 (m, 3H), 4.24 (t, 1H,
J = 7.2 Hz), 4.02-3.86 (m, 4H), 3.01 (d, 1H, J = 16.8),
2.37-0.81 (m, 20H), 1.30 (s, 3H), 1.08 (s, 3H), 1.02 (d, 3H,
J = 7.2 Hz), 0.99 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.80 (s, 3H). 13C NMR
(150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 170.1, 164.2, 162.4, 156.4, 144.1, 143.9,
127.9, 127.3, 125.3, 120.2, 115.9, 112.0, 67.3, 65.4, 63.4, 58.4,
58.3, 56.0, 53.7, 47.3, 42.0, 39.5, 38.3, 35.3, 34.4, 33.1, 32.1, 31.9,
24.7, 23.9, 23.1, 21.2, 21.0, 19.1, 18.0, 17.8, 13.1. IR (film): 3347,
1
(C26H41ClN2O3 þ /2H2O) C, H, N.
The following compounds were prepared according to the
methods developed for the E-oxime progesterone derivative 34:
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, Cyclic 20-(Ethylene Acetal), 3-O-(N-
Fmoc-L-valine)-Z-oxime (35). White foam (99% yield); Rf =
0.50 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.77
(d, 2H, J = 7.8 Hz), 7.62-7.60 (m, 2H), 7.43-7.36 (m, 2H), 7.32
(t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 6.33 (s, 1H), 5.45 (d, 1H, J = 9.6 Hz), 4.44
(dd, 1H, J = 9.0, 4.8 Hz), 4.40 (d, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 4.24 (t, 1H,
J = 7.2 Hz), 4.03-3.84 (m, 4H), 2.60-0.74 (m, 21H), 1.30 (s,
3H), 1.12 (s, 3H), 1.04 (d, 3H, J = 6.6 Hz), 1.00 (d, 3H, J = 7.2
Hz), 0.80 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 170.2, 165.7,
161.4, 156.4, 144.1, 144.0, 141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.3, 120.2,
112.0, 110.8, 67.3, 65.4, 63.4, 58.4, 58.3, 56.0, 54.0, 47.4, 42.1,
39.5, 39.4, 35.7, 35.3, 34.2, 33.5, 32.6, 31.9, 25.8, 23.9, 23.1,
21.1, 19.3, 18.0, 17.9, 13.1. IR (solid): 3318, 2935, 2876, 1716,
1468, 1371, 1309, 1236, 1042, 862, 739 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
695.4054 ([M þ H]þ, C43H55N2O6 requires 695.4066).
2937, 2880, 1756, 1718, 1513, 1374, 1339, 1239, 911, 710 cm-1
.
HRMS-ESI m/z 695.4059 ([M þ H]þ, C43H55N2O6 requires
695.4055).
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 3-O-(N-Fmoc-L-valine)-E-oxime (33).
Compound 32 (0.265 g, 0.381 mmol) was dissolved in
15 mL of acetone and 0.0164 g (0.0953 mmol, 0.250 equiv) PTSA
was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for
2 h then heated to 40 °C for 1 h. Ethyl acetate was added,
and the reaction was concentrated to remove acetone. Additional
EtOAc was added and the organic layer was washed with water
(2 ꢀ 10 mL). The aqueous layers were combined and extracted
with EtOAc. The organic layers were combined, washed with
brine, dried, filtered, and prepared as a silica cake. The cake was
eluted on a 12 g silica column with a 0-35% EtOAc in hexanes
gradient over 45 min. The main product was recovered as 0.245 g
(99%) waxy off-white solid; Rf = 0.52 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes,
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 3-O-(N-Fmoc-L-valine)-Z-oxime (36).
1
White foam (89% yield); Rf = 0.40 (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). H
NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.77 (d, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.61 (dd,
2H, J = 7.2, 2.4 Hz), 7.40 (t, 2H, J = 7.6 Hz), 7.32 (t, 2H,
J = 7.6 Hz), 6.35 (s, 1H), 5.47 (d, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 4.44 (dd, 1H,
J = 9.2, 4.8 Hz), 4.40 (d, 2H, J = 6.8 Hz), 4.24 (t, 1H, J = 7.2
Hz), 2.62-0.86 (m, 21H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.11 (s, 3H), 1.04 (d, 3H,
J = 6.8 Hz), 1.00 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.65 (s, 3H). 13C NMR(150
MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.6, 170.2, 165.1, 161.3, 156.4, 144.1, 143.9,
141.5, 127.9, 127.3, 125.3, 120.2, 110.9, 67.3, 63.7, 58.4, 56.2, 53.8,
47.3, 44.1, 39.3, 38.8, 35.7 (2C), 33.3, 32.5, 31.9, 31.7, 24.7, 24.5,
23.0, 21.2, 19.3, 18.0, 17.9, 13.5. IR(solid): 3327, 2935, 1699, 1449,
1371, 1355, 1235, 1032, 859, 760, 740 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z
651.3793 ([M þ H]þ, C41H51N2O5 requires 651.3793).
1
PMA). H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.77 (d, 2H, J = 7.8
Hz), 7.61 (dd, 2H, J = 7.2, 2.4 Hz), 7.42-7.39 (m, 2H), 7.32
(t, 2H, J = 7.2 Hz), 6.00 (s, 1H), 5.46 (d, 2H, J = 9.6 Hz),
4.40-4.40 (m, 3H), 4.24 (t, 1H, J = 7.2 Hz), 3.03 (d, 1H,
J = 17.4 Hz), 2.53 (t, 1H, J = 9.6 Hz), 2.37-0.85 (m, 19H),
2.12 (s, 3H), 1.08 (s, 3H), 1.02 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.99 (d, 3H,
J = 6.6 Hz), 0.65 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3) δ 209.6,
170.1, 164.1, 161.8, 156.4, 144.1, 143.9, 141.5, 127.9, 127.3,
125.3, 120.2, 116.2, 67.4, 63.7, 58.4, 56.3, 53.6, 47.4, 44.1, 38.9,
38.3, 35.8, 34.4, 32.9, 32.1, 31.9, 31.7, 24.6, 23.0, 21.4, 21.0,
Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 3-O-(L-valine)-Z-oxime Hydrochlor-
ide (37). White solid (61% yield, two steps); mp 140-142 °C. 1H
NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.74 (bs, 3H), 6.50 (s, 1H), 3.98
(s, 1H), 3.37 (s, 1H), 2.56 (t, 1H, J = 8.8 Hz), 2.48-0.82 (m,
20H), 2.06 (s, 3H), 1.09 (s, 3H), 1.01 (d, 3H, J = 7.2 Hz), 0.98

6022 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, Vol. 52, No. 19
MacNevin et al.
(d, 3H, J = 6.4 Hz), 0.56 (s, 3H). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)
δ 209.6, 167.0, 166.0, 162.0, 111.3, 63.7, 58.2, 56.2, 53.8, 44.1,
39.3, 38.9, 35.7 (2C), 33.3, 32.5, 31.7, 30.3, 24.7, 24.6, 23.0,
21.3, 19.1, 18.5, 18.1, 13.6. IR (solid): 2935, 1756, 1698, 1620,
1379, 1356, 1185, 852 cm-1. HRMS-ESI m/z 429.3108 ([M -
Cl]þ, C26H41N2O3 requires 429.3112). Anal. (C26H41ClN2O3 þ
1/2H2O) C, H, N.
Supporting Information Available: Table of elemental analysis
data for compounds 6a-6e, 11, 16, 19, 25, 28, 34, and 37. This
material is available free of charge via the Internet at http://
pubs.acs.org.
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Acknowledgment. We thank the Department of Defense
for funding support.

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