Addition of aryllithiums to an 11-oxo-steroid

Systematic investigation on the synthesis of androstane-based 3-, 11- and 17-carboxamides via palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation

3,17-Dicarboxamido-androst-3,5,16-triene, 3-carboxamido-androst-3,5-dien-17-one, 17-carboxamido-androst-4,16-dien-3-one and 11-carboxamido-androst-5,9(11)-dien-3,17-dione derivatives were synthesized in homogeneous carbonylation reactions from the corresponding 3,17-diiodo-androst-3,5,16-triene, 3-iodo-androst-3,5-diene-17-ethylene ketal, 17-iodo-androst-5,16-dien-3-ethylene ketal, 11-iodo-androst-5,9(11)-diene-3,17-bis(ethylene ketal) derivatives, respectively. A highly chemoselective palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of the corresponding iodo-alkene, carried out under mild reaction conditions, can be considered as the key-step for the introduction of the carboxamide functionalities. The synthesis of the iodo-alkene substrate is based on the transformation of the corresponding keto derivative to hydrazone, which was treated with iodine in the presence of a base (1,1,3,3-tetramethyl guanidine). The aminocarbonylation reaction is highly tolerant towards the N-nucleophiles, i.e. various primary and secondary amines including amino acid methyl esters can also be used.

Cobalt(I)-Mediated [2 + 2 + 2] Cyclization of Allenediynes toward a Diastereoselective Approach to 11-Aryl Steroid Skeletons

[reaction: see text] An 11-aryl steroid skeleton has been built in one step with a simultaneous introduction of the substituents at both C11 and C10 in 48% overall yield from a trans-allenediyne, whereas a formal Alder ene reaction leading to a bicyclic yne-trienic compound becomes the major process from the cis-allenediyne.