Process for the production of 16-Dehydropregenolone acetate form diosgenin

摘要

The invention relates to a process for producing 16-Dehydropregnenolone acetate (16DPA) of the formula shown below <IMAGE> which process comprises a) acetolysis of diosgenin of the formula shown below <IMAGE> by heating in a pressure reactor in the presence of an acetylating agent and a non-polar solvent, maintaining the pressure in the reactor in the range of 4-6 kg/cm2 and at a temperature in the range of 200 DEG -250 DEG C. to produce pseudodiosgenine acetate of the formula shown below <IMAGE> b) Oxidizing the so obtained pseudodiosgenin acetate to obtain diosone of the formula shown below <IMAGE> and, c) Hydrolysis and degradation of the diosone so obtained to produce the said 16-Dehydropregnenolone acetate.