Electrolytic reduction of aromatic steroids
AssigneeSchering Corporation
InventorKlaus Junghans
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Abstract
.DELTA..sup.1,3,5(10) STEROIDS ARE ELECTROCHEMICALLY REDUCED TO .DELTA..sup.2,5(10) STEROIDS IN AN IMPROVED MANNER BY CONDUCTING THE REDUCTION IN LIQUID AMMONIA IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ELECTROLYTIC SALT CONSISTING OF AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF A STRONG ACID, WHEN THE ELECTROLYSIS IS CONDUCTED IN A DIVIDED CELL, AND CONSISTING OF AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF A WEAK ACID OR A MIXTURE OF AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF A WEAK ACID AND OF A STRONG ACID, WHEN THE ELECTROLYSIS IS CONDUCTED IN AN UNDIVIDED CELL.
Claims12
A process for the electrolytic reduction of .DELTA..sup.1,3,5(10) steroids to .DELTA..sup.2,5(10) steroids which comprises subjecting a .DELTA..sup.1,3,5(10) steroid to electrochemical reduction wherein the solvent consists of liquid ammonia and wherein the electrolyte consists of an alkali metal salt of a strong acid, when the electrolysis is conducted in a divided cell, and consists of an alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal salt of a weak acid, or of a mixture of an alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal salt of a weak acid and an alkali salt of a strong acid, when the electrolysis is conducted in an undivided cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.