Bismuth(III) triflate-catalyzed rearrangement of 16α,17α-epoxy-20-oxosteroids. Synthesis and structural elucidation of new 16α-substituted 17α-alkyl-17β-methyl-Δ13-18-norsteroids

The use of bismuth(III) triflate for the rearrangement of 16α,17α-epoxy-20-oxosteroids is reported. The reactions occur under truly catalytic conditions to afford novel 17α-alkyl-17β-methyl-Δ13-18-nor products bearing different O-containing substituents at C16. When the reaction is performed in the absence of acylation agent a mixture of isomeric 16α- and 16β-hydroxy derivatives is obtained, whereas when carried out in the presence of such reagents, the reaction selectively affords the corresponding 16α-acyl rearranged products. The chemoselective rearrangement of 5β,6β;16α,17α-diepoxy-20-oxopregnan-3β-yl acetate to afford a ‘backbone’ rearranged product bearing the 16α,17α-epoxide group is also reported. Some mechanistic considerations are provided. All rearranged products were the subject of comprehensive structural elucidation, by the use of X-ray crystallography and 2D NMR.