Oxidations of Enone Systems in Steroids by Oxidizers with Reversible Redox Potential.

The oxidation of steroid enones by oxidizers with reversible redox potentials (mostly tetrazolium salts) is described. Products containing an oxo or hydroxy group at the position γ with respect to the oxo of the enone group were isolated in relatively high yields. The results of kinetic studies on the redox processes are reported and a reaction mechanism is proposed.