PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION 2-SUBSTITUTED-DERIVATIVES OF ESTRONE AND ESTRADIOL

摘要

The invention provides a process for the preparation of 2- substituted-derivatives of estrone and estradiol comprising i) the preparation of a compound of general formula (II) by reacting a compound of general formula (I) in one or more steps to a compound of general formula II wherein Rl is a C1-C10 alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; -C1, -Br, -I, -F; -CN; -OH; or a -OR2, -O(CO)R2 or -R2-OH group, wherein R2 is an alkyl or alkylene group having 1-6 C atoms; and the bonding between atoms 9 and 10 is a single or a double bond. ii) aromatization of the compound of general formula II to a compound of general formula III wherein Rl and R2 have the above defined meanings; and iii) optionally, reduction of the compound of general formula III to a compound of general formula IV wherein Rl and R2 have the above defined meanings . Furthermore the invention provides several novel compounds, which can be intermediates in the above process, and processes to prepare these novel compounds . The invention also provides 2-alkoxy-estrone, 2-alkoxy- estradiol or mixtures thereof essentially free from other estrogenic intermediates.