Regioselective oxidations of equilenin derivatives catalyzed by a rhodium(III) porphyrin complex—contrast with the manganese(III) porphyrin

Equilenin acetate and dihydroequilenin acetate were oxidized with iodosobenzene and a rhodium(III) porphyrin catalyst. The selectivity of the reactions differs from that with the corresponding Mn(III) catalyst, or from that of free radical chain oxidation.