Process for producing steroid compounds having an oxogroup 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 a halocarbonyl group of the acid halide in an inert organic medium in the presence of a catalytic amound of an ether capable of forming a complex with the organozinc compound and, if desired, hydrolyzing the product. The process gives the steroid compound in a high yield, and often in an almost quantitative yield. The steroid compound can be an important intermediate for the production of vitamin D₃ analogs, such as active forms of vitamin D₃.