STEREOSELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF UNHINDERED CYCLOHEXANONES TO AXIAL ALCOHOLS WITH RHODIUM CATALYST

Hydrogenation of unhindered cyclohexanones with rhodium catalyst in isopropyl alcohol or tetrahydrofuran in the presence of hydrochloric acid gives excellent yields of axial alcohols. Steroidal 3,17- and 3,20-diones are selectively hydrogenated at C-3 to give the corresponding 3-axial-hydroxy ketones in high yields.