4,4-Dimethyl-A-homoandrostane derivatives
5dealt with preparation and conformational properties of some A-homocholestane derivatives. In the course of the continuing work we be­ came interested in potential pharmacodynamic activity of compounds possessing a modified A-homo-androstane skeleton and we therefore prepared a series of com­ pounds derived from 4,4-dimethyl-A-homo-4a-androsten-3-one and 4,4-dimethyl­ -A-homo-S~androsten-3-one. 17~-Benzoyloxy-4-androsten-3-one 6 • 7 (I) was treated with diazomethane to give the A-homo derivative II in 35% yield. Mass spectrum of the benzoate II proved the molecular weight 406 as required by the formula C27H 340 3 • The infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopic data showed the compound II to be a non-conjugated ketone and suggested thus the structure of 17~-benzoyloxy-A-homo-4a-androst en-3-one.