Process for the preparation of an oxoetiocholenic acid

摘要

The invention is drawn to a process for the preparation of oxoetiocholenic acid of the formula I <IMAGE> by reacting a compound of the formula II <IMAGE> with a halonitrile in the presence of a base followed by formation of a 3-ketone group. The intermediate formed is reacted with an acid of the formula HX in an anhydrous medium followed by dehydrohalogenation of the resulting compound in the presence of a base. The intermediate produced then undergoes alkaline hydrolysis followed by a conventional acid treatment to obtain the compound of formula I.