Process for the production of 1- alpha -(carboxyalkyl)-testosterone

摘要

The present invention discloses a process for making 1- alpha -(carboxyalkyl)testosterone having the following formula: The process involves protecting the 17 position of 1,4-androstadien-17 beta -ol-3-one with TBDMS, alkylating with an alkenylmagnesium bromide and ozonolyzing the resulting ether. The resulting product is oxidized with sodium hypochloride followed by removal of the TBDMS protecting group with aqueous hydrofluoric acid in acetonitrile to produce the 1- alpha -(carboxyalkyl)-testosterone.