Total Synthesis of ( +/-)-Cortisone. Double-Hydroxylation Reaction for Corticoid Synthesis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00198a042

Total syntheses of (+/-)-cortisone and (+/-)-adrenosterone have been achieved in 18 steps with the aid of metal-assisted new synthetic sequences in particular, ene reaction and homoenolate chemistry.A novel double-hydroxylation reaction of enol silyl ethers leading to a single step construction of the dihydroxyacetone side chain in corticoids has been developed and applied to the synthesis of cortisone, cortexolone, and 16α-methylcortexolone.