Novel approach to the preparation of hemisuccinates of steroids bearing tertiary alcohol group

• Use of proper coupling reagent increases yield considerably.
• Selected protecting group enables mild conditions.
• Desired hemisuccinates are obtained in moderate to high yield.

17β-O-Hemisuccinates of typical representatives of Anabolic–Androgenic Steroids, 17β-hydroxy-17-methylandrostan-4-en-3-one, 17β-hydroxy-17-methyl-2-oxa-5α-androstan-3-one, 17β-hydroxy-17-methyl-5α-androstano-[3,2-c]pyrazole, were prepared. Several methods for the hemisuccinate preparation were tested. The indirect method using 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide coupling reagent to form an ester bond of steroid with 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl hydrogen butanedioate was finally applied. Using the selectively removable protecting group, the desired hemisuccinates of steroids bearing tertiary alcohol group were obtained.

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