Cyclization of 2, 3-secocholestane-2, 3-dioic acid dimethyl ester (I) by an acyloin condensation in homogeneous medium afforded a mixture, from which an acyloin assigned the structure 3@-hgdroxycholestane-2-one (11) was isolated in 82% yield. Minor products of the reaction were an isomeric 2-hydroxycholestane-3-one, cholestane-2a, 3@-diol, and 2, 3- secocholestanr-2, 3-dioic acid. Reduction of the acetate derivative of I1 with sodium ...
