Zheng-Neng Jin
2003
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0
Influential Citations
1
Citations
Journal
Chinese Journal of Pharmaceuticals
Abstract
Finasteride was synthesized from pregnenolone by the literature methods to give 3 carbonyl 4 androstene 17β carboxylic acid, which reacted with oxalyl chloride and then with t butyl amine in one pot to yield the 17β carboxamide. A ring cleavage of 17β carboxamide and its subsequent ring closure by ammonia giving 4 aza steroid which was hydrogenated to yield 5α 4 aza steroid. Dehydrogenation of the 1,2 position produced the target compound. The new synthetic route avoids the use of expensive reagent 2,2′ dipyridyl disulfide with an overall yield of 16%.