Process for producing steroid compounds having an oxo group in the side chain

摘要

A process for producing a steroid compound having an oxo group in the side chain, which comprises condensing an acid halide having a steroid skeleton with an organozinc compound at the halocarbonyl group of the acid halide in an inert organic medium in the presence of a catalytic amount of an ether capable of forming a complex with the organozinc compound, and if desired, hydrolyzing the product. The process produces the steroid compound at a high yield, and often at an almost quantitative yield. The steroid compound is an important intermediate for the production of vitamin D3 analogs such as active forms of vitamin D3. In one preferred embodiment, an industrially advantageous process from the standpoint of operation is provided.