CA1082687A - 3-DEOXY-1.alpha.-HYDROXY- AND 3-DEOXY-1.alpha.,25- DIHYDROXYCHOLECALCIFEROL AND PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Processes for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1.alpha.-hydroxycholecal-ciferol and 3-deoxy-1.alpha.,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, novel analogs of cholecalciferol possessing potent intestinal calcium transport stimulatory activity wlthout significant concomitant bone calcium mobilizing activi.ty, are disclosed.

Description

lOB~61~7 R~N UN 4212/11 The present invention relates to 3-deoxy-1~ -hydroxycholecalciferol 13, CH3 4~,~,,~
~ H
d' -C~CH2 ' ' "

OH

and 3-deoxy-~, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a .~

CH~ ~

H ~ OH

11 ' ' ~f CH2 ~ `
~ OE~ ' `,,:
... .
13a

- 2 - ~ ~ :

.

826~37 novel analogs of vitamin D bearing the necessary 1~-hydroxyl group and possessing the uni~ue characteristic of stimulating intestinal calcium transport without significantly mobilizing bone calcium.
The present invention also relates to novel processes for the preparation of 3-deoxy-ld-hydroxy-cholecalciferol 13 starting from cholesterol 2. More particularly, the present invention relates to processes for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1~-hydroxycholecalciferol 13 com~rising the steps of converting cholesterol 2 to 1~ ,2~ -oxido-4,6-cholestadien-3-one 1, reductively cleaving 1~ ,2~.-oxido-4,6-cholestadien-3-one 1 to 4,6-cholestadien-1~ ,.3 B -diol _, selectively hydro-genolyzing 4,6-cholestadien-1~,3~ -diol 4 to ~
l~hydroxy-5-cholestene:S..... and transforming 1~- :
hydroxy-5-cholestene 5 to 3-deoxy-1~hydroxycholeCal-ciferol 13, or alternatively, reductively cleaving 1~, 2C~-oxido-4,6-cholestadien-3-one 1 to 1~ -hydroxy-cholesterol 6, selectively sulfonating 1~ -hydroxy-cholesterol 6 to 1~ -hydroxycholesteryl sulfonate 7 and reducing lc~-hydroxycholesteryl sulfonate 7 to 1~-hydroxy-5-cholestene 5.

In addition the present invention also relates to a novel process for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1~~
25,dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a starting from cholesterol 2.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a comprising the steps of , .
~ - 3 - ;.

- .- , ~ - . : . ~ . .. ; :

~08;~87 ` `

selectively sulfonating 1~ ,25-dihydroxycholesterol 14 to 1~ ,25-dihydroxycholesteryl sulfonate 16, reducing 1~ ,25-dihydroxycholesteryl sulfonate 16 to 1~ ,25-dihydroxy-5-cholestene 17 and transforming 1~ r25-dihydroxy-5-cholestene 17 to 3-deoxy-1~ , 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a.
The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under research grants from the United States Public l~ealth Service.
In the formulas presented herein, the various subs~ituents are illustrated as joined to the steroid nucleus by one of three notations: a solid line ( indicating a substituent which is in the beta-orientation (i.e., above the plane of the molecule), a dotted line (------) indicating a substituent which is in the `
alpha-orientation (i.e., below the plane of the m~lecule), or a wiggly line (____A__~_) indicating a substituent which may be in the alpha- or beta-orientation or may be a "
mixture of both forms. The formulas have all been drawn ;
to show the compounds in their absolute stereochemical cvnfigurations. Since the starting materials are derived rom naturally occurring materials, the final products exist in the single absolute configuration depicted herein.
However, the processes of the present invention are intended to apply as well to the synthesis of steroids of the racemic series. Thus, one may begin the synthesis utilizing racemic starting materials to prepare racemic products. Optically active products can then be prepared by resolution of the racemic products utilized in the preparation thereof, as hereinafter described, by standard resolution techniques well-known in the art.

~L~826~

As used throughout the specification and appended claims, the term "alkyl" denotes a straight or branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methyl, 2-propyl, 2-methylpropyl,

3-methylpentyl, octyl and the like; the term "alkylphenyl"
denotes a group mono- or polysubstituted by alkyl, such as, :
for example, tolyl, xylyl, mesityl and the like; the term "alkanoyl" denotes a radical derived by abstraction of the hydroxyl group from an alkylcarbo~xylic acid having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as acety~, 2-methylpropionyl, 2-methyl-pentanoyl, octanoyl and the like; the term "alkanol" denotes ~n alcohol derived by combination of alkyl and hydroxyl radicals, such as, for example, methanol, 2-propanol, 2-methyl-propanol, 3-methylpentanol, octanol and the like; the term "alkoxy" denotes a radical derived by abstraction of the hydroxyl proton from an alkanol, such as, for example, methoxy, 2-propoxy, 2-methylpropoxy, 3-methylpentoxy, octoxy and the like; and the term "halide" denotes chloride and bromide. The term "lower" refers to the numerical range 1 to 8.
In the first step of the process of the present invention for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1~ -hydroxychole-calciferol 13, 1~ ,2C~-oxido-4~6-cholestadien-3-one 1, H
~Q CH3 ~H I ¦

~ '' ' :: , ~' l~Z~

prepared by dehydrogenation of cholesterol 2 CH3"" ~
~ H :

H ~

with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone to 1,4,6- ~ `
ch~lestatrien-3-one 3 CH3~
H ¦ ' 0~ ~
3 .
according to the procedùre described by A. B. Turner (J.
Chem. Soc. C, 2568 (19`68)) followed by selective epoxidation of the 1,2-double bond with alkaline hydrogen peroxide according to the known procedure of B. Pelc and E. Kodicek (J. Chem. Soc. C, 1568 (1971)), is reduced to 4,6-cholestadien-1~ ,3~ -diol 4.

~.

< - 6 - :~-, : :

'~, ~26~7 3'~",-~~
~ H

H

The reduction of 1~ ,2~ -oxido-4,6-cholestadien-3-one 1 is accomplished using a suitable aluminum hydride reducing agent suspended or dissolved in an inert organic solvent at a reaction temperature of up to about 50C.
Among the suitable aluminum hydride reducing agents .
are alkali metal aluminum hydrides, such as lithium aluminum :~
hydride and the like, alkali metal aluminum alkoxy hydrides, such as lithium tri-(tert.-butoxy)aluminum hydride, lithium ~;
diethoxy-aluminum hydride and the like, and alkyl aluminum hydrides, such as diisobutylaluminum hydride and the like.
Alkali metal aluminum hydrides are preferred; lithium .~ .
aluminum hydride is mos~ preferred.
Among the inert organic solvents are ethereal solvents, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetra- ~ :
hydrofuran, dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane and the like, when alkali metal aluminum hydrides and alkall metal~ alkoxyaluminum . .
hydrides are used as the reducing agents, and aromatic -- :

, : .
hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, xylene and~the llke, .;

- 7 ~

, .
-- . ,, - ,,: . : : . ~. - . ..

1~82~;~7 when alkylaluminum hydrides are used as the reducing agents.
Diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran are the preferred ethereal solvents; diethyl ether is most preferred. Benzene and toluene are the preferred aromatic hydrocarbon solvents; toluene is most preferred.
While reaction temperatures below about 50C are not critical, reaction temperatures above about 50C should be avoided to minimize possi~ble hydrogenolysis of the 3~ -hydroxyl group of the diendiol 4.
Similarly, the molar ratio of the aluminum hydride reducing agent to the diendiol 4 is not critical as long as the ratio is greater than 0.5. Molar ratios of about 1 to about 10 are preferred. A molar ratio of about 5 is most preferred.
In the second step of the process, the diendiol 4 is subjected to the conditions of the Birch reduction where-upon the 3~ -hydroxyl group is hydrogenolyzed and the ~4,6_ diene system is conjugatively reduced to afford 1~ -hydroxy-5-cholestene 5.

CH3""
H ¦

~--~ '' H

1~8Z~

The reductive-hydrogenolysis of the diendiol 4 is effected by a solution of an alkali metal in a suitable ammoniacal solvent containing an appropriate inert organic cosolvent under an inert atmosphere at a temperature of about -33 to about 25C.
Included among the alkali metals are sodium, potassium, lithium and the like. Sodium and lithium are preferred;
lithium is most preferred.
Suitable ammoniacal solvents include ammonia and primar~ and secondary amines, such as methylamine, ethylamine, dimethylamine and the like. Ammonia and methylamine are preerred; ammonia is most preferred.
Among inert organic cosolvents are ethereal `
cosolvents, such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and the like. Diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran are pre-ferred; tetrahydrofuran is most preferred.
Appropriate inert atmospheres include nitrogen, argon, helium and the like. Nitrogen and helium are preferred; nitrogen is most preferred.
While reaction temperatures within the range of about -33 to about 25C are no~ critical, the preferred ;
reaction tempexatures for reactions utilizing ammoniacal solvents boiling below about 25C are the boiling points of the solvents, and the preferred reaction temperatures for reactions utilizing ammoniacal solvents boiling above about 25C are about 25C. The most preferred reaction temperature is the boiling point of ammonia, -33C.

`.- 9 1~)13Z687 As in most Birch-type reductions, the molar ratio of the dissolving alkali metal to the diendiol 4 is not crucial. For the reduction of diendiol 4 to the enol 5, molar ratios within the range of about 25 to about 100 are preferred; molar ratios of about 50 are most preferred.
Alternatively, 1~ -hydroxy-S-cholestene 5 may be prepared by reductive-cleavage of 1~ ~2C~-oxido-4~6-cholestadien-3-one 1 to lc~-hydroxycholesterol 6 CH
CH

HO ~ H

~ . ' HO

according to the procedure of Barton, et al. (J. Am. Chem.
Soc., 95, 2748 ~1973)) followed by selective sulfonation of ;
the 3~ -hydroxyl group of the endiol 6 to the sulfonate of formula 7 ':

H
^C~ " ~, R'-S02-0 ~ H

~.
-- 10 -- ~ ' ' ~OB;~68~

wherein R' is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower-alkylphenyl, and reduction of 7.
The selective sulfonation of the 3 -hydroxyl group of the endiol 6 is performed by treatment with about 1 to about 5 molar-equivalents of a sulfonyl halide of formula 8 .
wherein R' is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower-alkylphenyl and X is chloro or bromo, in the presence of a basic solvent at a reaction temperature of about 0C to afford the sulfonate 7.
Among the basic solvents which have been found to ;
be useful in the sulfonation step are trialkylamines, such as triethylamine, tripropylamine and the like, N,N-dialkylani-lines, such as N,N-dimethylaniline and the like, and hetero-aromatic amines, such as pyridine, and alkylpyridines, such as picolines, lutidines and collidines and the like.
Preferred basic solvents are triethylamine and pyridine;
pyridine is the most preferred basic solvent.
While the molar ratio of the sulfonyl halide 8 to the endiol 6 within the range of about 1 to about 5 is not crucial, a molar ratio of about 2 is preferred.
While reaction temperatures above about 0C are to be avoided to suppress disulfonate formation, i.e., sulfona-tion of the 1~ - as well as the 3~ -hydroxyl groups, a reaction temperature of about -10C is preferred.

.
, ~ ..
- 11 - ~ .

, ~,., : .

1~'82~'ff~3f'7' Included among the preferred 3ffB -sulfonates of formula 7 are those compounds of formula 7 wherein R' is methyl, phenyl or 4-tolyl. The most preferred 3~ -sulfonate of formula 7 is the compound of formula 7 wherein R' is 4-tolyl.
The last step of the alternative process for the preparation of lf~ -hydroxy-5-cholestene 5, the reduction of a 3~ -sulfonate of formula 7, is accomplished by dissolving a compound of formula 7 in an inert ethereal solvent, such as ether, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and the like, ether and tetrahydrofuran being preferred; ether being most preferred, and treating the solution with an alkali metal aluminum hydride, such as sodium aluminum hydride, lithium aluminum hydride and the like, lithium aluminum hydride being the preferred alkali metal aluminum hydride, at a temperature range from about 25C to the boiling point of the ethereal solvent, the boiling point of the inert ethreal solvent being thè preferred reaction temperature.
The molar ratio of the alkali metal aluminum hydride to the sulfonate 7 is not critical. The reduction is `
conveniently carried out with a molar ratio of the reducing agent to the sulfonate 7 of about 1 to about 25, a molar ratio of about 10 being preferred.
In the next step of the process for the preparation of 3-deoxy-lf~ -hydroxycholecalciferol 13, 1~ -hydroxy-5-cholestene 5 is converted to the acylate of formula 9 ~, f . , ~

, ~8~7 H

~ , :

wherein R is lower alkanoyl, by means of acylating agents derived from straight or branched chain saturated alkanecarboxylic acids having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as alkanoyl halides and symmetrical alkanoic anhydrides, in the presence of a tertiary heteroaromatic amine, such as, for example, pyridine, picoline, lutidine, collidine :
and the like as the solvent system and acid-acce~tor and N,N-dimethyl-4-amino-pyridine as the catalyst at from about 15C ~
to about the boiling point of the solvent system using from . ~ .
about 5 to about 20 moles of the acylating agent for each molar equivalent of 1~ -hydroxy-5-cholestene 5. The :~
acylation is preferably performed at about room temperature with about 10 moles of acylating agent for each mole of ~:`
alcohol 9. :~
Suitable alkanoyl halides include acetyl halides, . :
propionyl halides, 2-methylpropionyl halides, trimethylacetyl ; .
halides, hexanoyl halides, dimethylpentanoyl halides, : ~:
octanoyl halides and the like; acetyl chloride, hexanoyl . t ~
__ ~ 13 - -" ~ .

~Zl6~7 chloride and octanoyl chloride are preferred; acetyl chloride and octanoyl chloride are most preferred. Suitable symmetrical alkanoic anhydrides include acetic anhydride, proprionic anhydride, 2-methylpropionic anhydride, trimethylace~ic anhydride, hexanoic anhydride, dimethyl-pentanoic anhydride, octanoic anhydride and the like; acetic anhydride, hexanoic anhydride and octanoic anhydride are preferred; acetic anhydride and hexanoic anhydride are most preferred.
The subsequent steps of the process for the prepara- `
tion o 3-deoxy-lc~ -hydroxycholecalciferol 13 are performed by utilizin~ procedures well-known in the art. Thus 1~ -acyloxy-5-cholestene 9 is allylically brominated by means of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl-hydantoin in a suitable aromatic-aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent system, such as l:l-benzene-hexane to a mixture of 7~ - and 7~ -bromo-l~ -acyloxy-5-cholestenes of formula 10 .:' `
CH3", ~

H
~ .
`
Br ,~ -, wherein R is as hereinbefore defined, which without further purification is dehydrobrominated by means of trimethylphosphite in an aromatic hydrocarbon ~ .
~. - 14 -~08~ 7 solvent, such as xylene, to 1~ -acyloxy-5,7-cholestadienes of formula 11 ~ CH3"~

wherein R is as hereinbefore defined by procedures essentially the same as those employed by Barton, et al., supra for the synthesis of 1~ ,25-diacetoxy-7,8-dehydrocholesteryl acetate, and hydrolyzed to 1~ -hydroxy-5, ;
7-cholestadiene of formula 11 (wherein R is hydrogen) by means of an alkali metal hydroxide, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide and the like, dissolved in a suitable lower alkanol, such as methanol, ethanol and the like, at about room temperature under an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen, helium and the like. ~he saponification of 1~ -acyloxycholestane derivatives, such as compounds of formula 11 is well-known in ~ . .... .
the art (see for example, J. Rubio-~ightbourn, et al, Chem.

Pharm. Bull., 21, 1854 (1973)).

' ' .

.,. . . ~ . . , .. .. . .. . . .. .. .. . , , .. , . ., .. . ... ; . . .... . . . . .. ..

1~382~B7 In the final steps of the process for the pre~ara~
tion of 3-deoxy-1~ -hydroxycholecalciferol 13, 1~ -hydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene tll, R is hydrogen) dissolved in a suitable saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as pentane, hexane and the like, or an ethereal solvent, such as ether, tetrahyd`ro-~uran and the like, is irradiated by means of a medium pressure mer~ury lamp equipped with a Corex ~lass filter under an inert atmQsphere, such as nitrogen, helium and the like, at a temperature from about -40 to about 25C for about 8 minutes to afford 3-deoxy-lC~-hydroxyprecholecalciferoI 12 CH3r~
,~H ~ EI ¦ , ` ~ ~

) which is then isomerized t~ 3-deoxy-1C~-hydroxycholecalciferol H
' ` ~ ''` ' " " ' ~ 2 ~ OH .~:
* Trade Mark . :' ~ .. . . .. . . .
.. .. .. . . : : . . : .

32~;87 by heating the previtamin 12 in an inert or~anic solvent, such as dioxane, tetrahydrofuran and the like, under an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen, helium and the like at about .``
75C for about 2 hours. The irradiation and isomerization steps follow paths well-trodden in the art (see for example, Barton, et al., supra).
In the first step of the process o the present invention for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1~ ,25-dihydroxy-cholecalciferol 13a, 1~ ,25-dihydroxycholesterol 14, 3~"~ ~ ~
CH ~ ~ I OH `

H ~

prepared from cholesterol 2 vla 25-hydroxycholesterol 15 3~" ~

¦ OH

H .

~, . ' .
- 17 - :~
:

1~3Z687 according to ,he procedures of Narwid, et al. (Helv. Chim.
Acta., 57, 781 (1974) and sarton~ et al. (J. Chem. Soc. Chem.
Commun., 203 (1974), is selectively sulfonated to a compound of formula 16 C~3"~

R'-SO2-O

~ .
wherein ~ is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower-alkylphenyl by the method ~or the conversion of lo~-hydroxycholesterol 6 to the sulfonate of formula 7.
The sulfonate of formula 16 is then reductively cleaved to lC~,25-dihydroxy-S-cholestene 17 3~", ~

OH

H `~ `
,.

~(~8~6~3~

by the method described for the conversion of the 3~ -sulfonate of formula 7 to 1~ -hydroxy-5-cholestene 5.
The subsequent steps of the process for the prepara-tion of 3-deoxy-1C~25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a follow those employed for the transformation of lC~-hydroxy-5-cholestene 5 to 3-deoxy-lc~-hydroxycholecalciferol 13.
Thus lc~,25-dihydroxy-5-cholestene 17 is acylated to the diacylate of formula 18 3/ ~ `

H ~ OR ~
~ .
~ ~ H

wherein R is lower alkanoyl "
by the method described for the acylation of 5 to compounds of formula 9 followed by bromination to a mixture of 7~ - .
and 7~ -bromo-10~,25-diacyloxy-5-cholestenes of formula 19 '. ~
3~//

H ~ OR

H
Br :

9 ',.
, ` .

- 19 - , . . .

by the proce~ure described for the formation of the previtamin 12 from the 5,7-cholestadiene 11 and isomerized to 3-deoxy-lCX,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a following the method used for the conversion of the previtamin 12 to 3-deoxy-lo~-hydroxycholecalciferol _. .
The processes of the present invention are useful for the preparation of the potent selective intestinal calcium transport stimulators, 3-deoxy-lG~-hydroxycholecal-ciferol 13 and 3-deoxy-1 ~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a.

4,6-Cholestadien-lc~,3~ -diol 4, lCX -hydroxy-5-cholestene 5 and its lower alkanoyI derivatives of formula 9, ~ hydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene of formula 11 (wherein R is hydrogen) and its lower al]canoyl derivatives of formula 11 (wherein R is lower alkanoyl) and the lower alkyl-, phenyl and lower-alkylphenylsulfonates of l~-hydroxycholesterol of formula 7 (wherein R' is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower-alkylphenyl) are useful intermediates for the preparation of 3-deoxy-1CC-hydroxycholecalciferol.
lOC,25-Dihydroxycholesteryl sulfonates of formula 16 (wherein R' is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower-alkylphenyl), lo~,25-dihydroxy-5-cholestene 17 and its lower alkanoyl derivatives of formula 18 (wherein R is lower alkanoyl) are `
.
useful intermediates for the preparation of 3-deoxy-loC,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a and dehydrobromination and hydrolysis to 1~ ,25-dihydroxycholesta-5,7-diene 20 ~.

.

~ ;

~8Z6~37 3"" ~ ~

HO ~ ~ ~OH

by the procedure described for the conversion of acylates of formula 9 to lo~-hydroxy-5~7-cholestadiene of formula 11 by means of the intermediate mixture o 7O~- and 7~ -bromo- `:
1~-acyloxy-5-cholestenes of formula 10.
The provitamin, ~ ,25-dihydroxycholesta-5,7-diene 20 is then irradiated to the previtamin 21 " ' .

.

CH3 . -.

HO

~L~82SO~7 3-Deoxy~ hydroxycholecalciferol 13 and 3-deoxy-1~ ,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a stimulate intestinal calcium transport without significant concomitant mobilization of bone calcium release and thus are useful not only for the ~reatment of vitamin D deficiency and metabolic disorders in mammals where release of bone calcium is not detrimental, but also for the treatment of those disorders when release of bone calcium is undesirable. Bearing the lc~-hydroxyl group required for biological activity and introduced metabolically into vitamin D and its analogs in healthy subjects by the kidney, 3-deoxy-lC~-hydroxycholecalciferol and 3-deoxy-lC~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a are also useful for the treatment of vitamin D diseases and metabolic disorders associated with renal malfunction and uremic conditions.
In vitamin D deficient chicks, 3-deoxy-1C-hydroxy-cholecalciferol 13 stimulates calcium transport to a maximum level of about 7 times greater than that of rachitic control birds and elicits a response about 1.5 times greater than the res~onse elicited by cholecalciferol or its potent, rapid-acting natural metabolite, l~ ,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.
Maximum biological response is obtained at about 12 hours af~er administration of 3-deoxy-lC~-hydroxycholecalciferol.
Due to the presence of the lc~-hydroxyl group, the character-istic time lag of the 3-deoxy derivative 13 is about l/3-1~2 that of the parent vitamin, cholecalciferol, and about the same as those of 16~25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and lo~-hydroxycholecalciferol. ~ ~
'' - 22 - ~

1082~
. . - .
In vitamin D deficient chicks, 3-deoxy-lc~25-dihydroxycholecalciferol 13a stimulates calcium transport to a maximum level of about 5-7 times greater than that of rachitic control birds and elicits a response about equivalent to the response elicited by cholecalciferol or its potent, rapid-acting natural metabolite, 1~,25-dihydroxycholecalci-ferol. Maximum biological response is obtained at about 12 hours after administration of 3-deoxy-lc~,25-dihydroxychole-calciferol. Due to the presence of the lC~-hydroxyl group, the characteristic time lag of the 3-deoxy derivative 13a is about 1/3 that of the parent vitamin, cholecalciferol, and about the same as those of lcx~25-dihydroxycholecalcifer ana lC~-hydroxycholecalciferol.
Compared to 1~-hydroxycholecalciferol and lC~, `
25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 3-deoxy-1~ -hydroxycholecalciferol is virtually devoid of bone calcium mobilization activity in the in vivo system described in Example 13. While lcC, .
25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and 1~-hydroxycholecalciferol xelease significant amounts of calcium at a dose of 5x10-5 ug/ml, 3-deoxy-lo~-hydroxycholecalciferol does not significantly mobilize bone calcium at 5xlO-1 ug/ml, i.e., 3-deoxy-~ -hydroxycholecalciferol is about 10,000 times less active than metabolites. 3-Deoxy-1C~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol is about 1/50 as active as 1 0~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.
3-Deoxy-lC~-hydroxycholecalciferol and 3-deoxy-lo~, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol may be formulated with various `
conventional inert organic and inorganic pharmaceutical carriers suitable for parenteral or enteral administration `~
such as, for example, water, gelatin, lactose, starch, , ~ - 23 -. : . .: - ., .. : . , ~L~8i:~87 magnesium sterate, talc, vegetable and fish liver oil, gums and the like. 3-Deoxy-l~ -hydroxycholecalciferol can be administered in conventional pharmaceutical forms such as solid forms, for example, tablets, dragees, capsules, suppositories or the like, or in liquid forms such as solutions, suspension, suppositories or the like. The pharmaceutical co~positions containing 3-deoxy-loC-hydroxycholecalciferol and 3-deoxy-lG~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol can be subjected to conventional pharmaceutical processes such as steriliza-tion, and can contain conventional pharmaceutical excipients such as preservatives, stabilizing agents, emulsifying agents, salts for ad~usting osmotic pressure or buffers.
The pharmaceutical compositions can also contain other therapeutically valuable substances.
A suitable pharmaceutical dosage unit might contain about 10 to 1000 ug of 3-deoxy-l~C-hydroxycholecalciferol and 1-100 ug of 3-deoxy-lC~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.
Suitable parenteral dosage regimens in mammals comprise from about 1 ug/kg to about 25 ug/kg per day. For any particular subject, the specific dosage regimen should be adjusted according to the disorder being treated, the individual needs of the patient and the professional judgments of those administering or supervising the administration of ;` ` .:
3-deoxy-lo<-hydroxycholecalciferol or 3-deoxy-10C1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. The dosages set forth herein are exemplary. They do not to any extent limit the scope or practice of this invention.
.:' .
,' ~

.. .. . . . . . ..

~82~;8~ `

EX~PLES

The following examples are illustrative only of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention in any manner.

Example 1 .
1,4,6-Cholestatrien-3-one (3). 1,4,6-Cholestatrien-3-one was prepared in 56% yield from cholesterol, 2,3-dichloro-

5,~-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone and dioxane by the procedure of A. B. Turner, J. Chem. Soc. C, 2568 (1963).
'~"'' " '. .

Example 2 `' ..
1 ~,2~ -Oxido-4,6-cholestadien-3-one (1).
1O~,2'X-oxido-4,6-cholestadien-3-one was prepared in 72%
yield from 1,4,6-cholestatrien-3-ones, aqueous 30% hydrogen peroxide, 15% sodium hydroxide solution and methanol by the procedure of B. Pelc and E. Kodicek, J. Chem. Soc. C, 1568 (1971).

Example 3 4,6-Cholestadien-1O~,3 ~-diol (4). A solution of lC~2Oc-oxido-4~6-cholestadien-3-one (1, 5.0 g, 0.013 mole) in anhydrous ether (200 ml) was heated under reflux with lithium aluminum hydride (2.5 gt 0.066 mole) under anhydrous ~.
:

~ ~ .

, .: ' ~8Z6i87 conditions for 5 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled in an ice-bath and water (2.5 ml), 15% sodium hydroxide solution, and water (7.5 ml) were added successively to the well-stirred reaction mixture. The precipitate was collected on a filter and the filter cake was washed with e~her. The filtrate was evaporated under vacuum and the residue was chromatographed on Woelm neutral alumina, grade III (150 g).
The material (3.8 g) eluted with benzene-ether (2:1) was recrystallized from acetone-methanol to give the diol 4 as needles (3.25 g, 62% yield), mp 120-121C.
Anal. Calc'd for C~7H44O2: C, 80.94; H, 11.07.

~ound: C, 80.81; H, 11.21.

Example 4 lCC-Hydroxy-5-cholestene (5). A three-necked standard .
taper round-bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, ;
dry ice condenser, a nitrogen inlet and an ammonia inlet was thoroughly dried, flushed with nitrogen, cooled in a dry ice-acetone bath and charged with ammonia (60 ml). Lithium (0.4 g, 0.06 mole) was added portionwise under an atmosphere of nitrogen, with stirring. A solution of ~,6-cholestadien-1c~,3~ -diol (4, 0.518 g, 1.29 mmoles) in freshly distilled ~ ;
tetrahydrofuran (60 ml) was added and, after removal of the cooling bath, the reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours.

Ammonium chloride (ca 0.5 g) was added and after stirring for 1 hour, saturated ammonium chloride solution was added.
' '..' ~ .': ' - 26 ~
,..,,,. ~
'' ' ' ` 10~26137 The ammonia was allowed to evaporate. Water was added to the residue and the solution was extracted with ether. The combined organic extracts were washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated under vacuum. Filtration of the residual solid (0.509 g) dissolved in low boiling petroleum ether through a column of silica gel gave 0.3 g (60%) of carbinol 5.
For analysis, a sample was purified by preparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel followed by recrystal-lization from 95~ ethanol. The carbinol 5 had mp n2 0-l03 0c. `
Anal. Calc'd for C27H46O C, 83-87; H~ 11.99.
Found: C, 83.71; H, 12.34.

Example 5 ' 1~-Hydroxycholesterol (6). lC~,2C-Oxido-4, ,

6-cholestadien-3-one (1, 3~0 g, 7.6 mmoles) in tetrahydrofuran (100 ml) was treated with lithium (4.0 g, 0.58 mole) for 3 hours by the procedure described above for the reduction of 4. Ammonium chloride (25 g) was added to the reaction mixture, with stirring, and after one hour, saturated ammonium chloride solution was added cautiously with vigorous stirring. The ammonia was allowed to evaporate. Water was added and the solution was extracted with ether. The combined ethereal extracts were washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium ~' . .

- 27 - .`~
- ~ .
' ~ . . ; -~C~8Z687 sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated under vacuum. Chromatography of the residue (3.05 g) over alumina (Woelm neutral, grade III, 50~ ethyl acetate-ethanol) followed by recrystalli~ation from acetone gave 1.5 g (49~) of the carbinol 5, mp 156-157C.

Example 6 lo~-~ydroxycholesteryl Tosylate (7, R' is 4-methyl-phenyl). A solution of lc~-hydroxycholesterol (6, 1.0 g, 2.5 mmoles), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (1.0 g, 5.2 mmoles) and anhydrous pyridine (5 ml) was allowed to ctand overnight in a freezer having a temp2rature less than 0C. Cold water and ether were added to the reaction mixture. The phases were separated and the ethereal phase was washed with cold water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The crystalline residue (1.35 g) was suitable without further purification for use -~
in the subsequent steps.
For analysis, a sample was recrystallized from acetone-low boiling petroleum ether. The analytical sample had mp 147 C (dec.).
~ nal. Calc'd for C35H5204S: C, 73-33; H, 9.41.
Found: C, 7 3 . 0 2; H, 9.48.

- 2~ - :
." .:
,5~

' ' .. . , - : . . .: .. . . -. . . : .

~082~87 Example 7 lCc-Hydroxy-5-cholestene (5). ~ solution of lc~-hydroxycholesteryl tosylate (7, R' is 4-methylphenyl, 1.35 g) in anhydrous ether (80 ml) was heated under reflux with lithium aluminu~ hydride (0.908 g, 23.9 mmoles) under anhydrous conditions for 5 hours. Work-up of the reaction mixture as described in the above procedure for the preparation of 4,6-cholestadien-lc~,3 ~-diol 4 followed by chromatography of the crude carbinol on silica gel (25 g) using low boiling petroleum ether-benzene as the eluent gave 705 mg (72%
yield based on 1~ -hydroxycholesterol 6) of 5.

Example 8 1~-Acetoxy-5-cholestene (9, R is acetyl). A
. .
solution of 1~ -hydroxy-5-cholestene (5, 1.5g, 3~9 mmoles), acetic anhydride (5 ml), pyridine (5 ml) and 4-dimethylamino-pyridine (.10 g) was allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. Cold water and ether were added to the reaction `
mixture. The phases were separated and the ethereal extract ;
was washed with cold dilute hydrochloric acid, water and sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic extract was dried `
over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in benzene and filtered through a column of silica gel. Evaporation of the eluent followed by recrys-talliza-tion of the residue from benzene gave 1.40 g (85~ yield) ,. . : ,, ~o~3z687 of the aceto~y derivative (9, R is acetyl) as needles, mp 69-70C.
Anal. Calc'd for C29H48O2: C, 81-25; H, 11-29-Found: C, ~1.51; H, 11.20.

Example 9 -~

lC~-Acetoxy-5,7-cholestadiene (11, R is acetyl).
To a magnetically stirred solution of 1~ -acetoxy-5-cholestene (9, R is acetyl, 0.415 g, 0.97 mmole) in 1:1 benzene-hexane (90 ml) heated under reflux under anhydrous conditions was added 1,3-dibromo-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin (0.145 g, 0.51 mmole) in one portion. The reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 15 minutes and then cooled in an ice-bath.
The precipitate was collected on a filter and washed with cold low boiling petroleum ether. The combined filtrates were evaporated to dryness at room temperature under va~cuum to give a yellow residual syrup. ;~
The yellow residual syrup was dissolved in xylene ~(50 ml) and the solution was added dropwise, with stirring, to a refluxing solution of trimethylphosphite tl.5 ml) in xylene (25 ml). After the addition was complete (ca 1/2 hour), the reaction mixture was heated under reflux for one hour, and after cooling, the mixture was evaporated to dryness at water pump vacuum and then under high vacuum.
The residue was dissolved in a small volume of low boiling petroleum ether and was chromatographed on 10~ -silver nitrate impregnated silica gel (15 g) using ether-low ; `
'~',~ ' `' - 3~ - ;

, ';', .
`''`

~L~82~87 boiling petroleum ether (0~, 200 ml; 2%, 350 ml; 4%, 500 ml;
10%, 100 ml) as the eluents. Fourteen milliliter fractions were collected. Fractions 52-75 contained mainly lcx-acet 5,7-cholestadiene as determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy.
These fractions were pooled and evaporated under vacuum.
The residue (55 mg) was chromatographed on silica gel (8 g) using ether-low boiling petroleum ether (0%, 60 ml; 2%, 90 ml; 6%, 30 ml) as the eluents. Thirteen milliliter fractions were collected and evaporation of fraction 4 under reduced pressure gave 45 mg (11~ yield) of 1~ -acetoxy-5,

7-cholestadiene, mp 105-106C.
In a subsequent experiment, further purification by preparative thin-layer chromatography followed by recrystallization from ethanol afforded the acetate as colorless needles, mp 108-109C.

Example 10 "

lC~-Hydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene (11, R is hydrogen).
A solution of lCx-acetoxy-s~7-cholestadiene (11, R is acetyl,

8.3 mg) and 5% methanolic potassium hydroxide (10 ml) was allowed to stand at room temperature under an atmosphere of nitrogen overnight. Work-up of the reaction mixtùre in the usual way gave 1--hydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene.

11~8Z6~7 Example 11 3-Deoxy-l~ -hydroxycholecalciferol (13). ~X -Hydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene (11, R is hydrogen) from the above experiment was dissolved in ether and irradiated with a 100 ~att medium pressure mercury lamp equipped with a Corex glass filter under an atmosphere of nitrogen for 8 minutes by the method of Barton, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 95, 2748 (1973).
The crude irradiation product was chromatographed on silica gel (12 g) using low boiling petroleum ether (100 ml), 2~ ether-low boiling petroleum ether (100 ml), 5% ether-low boiling petroleum ether (100 ml), 8% ether-low boiling petroleum ether (200 ml) and 10% ether-low boiling petroleum ether (100 ml) as the eluents. Ten milliliter fractions were collected. Fractions 36-39, the ultraviolet spectra of which `
showed maxima at 260 nm and minima at 230 nm, were combined ~ `
and evaporated to afford 3-deoxy-1~ -hydroxyprecholecalciferol ( _ ) ~ ` `
The 3-deoxy-1~-hydro~yprecholecalciferol from the preceding experiment was dissolved in the required volume of iso-octane and the solution was heated at 75C for 2.15 hours ;
under a nitrogen atmosphere,according to the procedure of Barton, et al., supra. The solvent was evaporated and the `~ "
resi~ue was chromatographed on silica gel (10 g) using low `
boiling petroleum ether (150 ml) and ether-low boiling petroleum ether (3%, 150 ml; 5%, 150 ml; 8%, 100 ml) as the eluents. Ten milliliter fractions were collected. Fractions 37-40, the ultraviolet spectra of which showed maxima at ~
262 nm and minima at 227 nm, were combined and evaporated ;

to give 0.63 mg of 3-deoxy-1~ -hydroxycholecalciferol~ The ~` "
thin-layer chromatography of the vitamin showed one spot. ~ ~ `

.~ ~, .... .

1~8Z~B7 The vitamin exhibited the expected mass spectrum having the calculated molecular ion.

Example 12 Determination of sone Calcium Mobilization in vitro.
.= .~ . _ . . .
45Calcium chloride (200 uCi) was administered to 17-day pregnant rats, and after 48 hours, the rats were sacrificed and the fetuses were separated. Fetal radii and ulnae were isolated and cultured in Biggers-Gwatkin-~leyner medium. Paired radii and ulnae were employed. One bone was treated with a solution of the vitamin D3 derivative in 95% ethanol and its pair was used as the control. The bones were cultured in a carbon dioxide incubator for 72 hours.
At the end of the culture period, aliquots of the media were collected and the released 45calcium was counted.
The effectiveness of the vitamin D3 derivative in prompting bone calcium release is expressed as the ratio of the number of counts per minute (T) of released 45calcium from the treated bone to the number of counts per minute (C) of released 45calcium from its paired control. A T/C ratio ~reater than 1 indicates a significant release of bone calcium in response to the vitamin D3 derivative.

~ .

.. . .

82~8~

Mobilization of Bone Calcium Compound Dose (ug/ml) T/C - S.E.
1cC,25-(OH)2-D3 2xl0 5 1.62 - O.17 5x10 5 1.93 + 0.12 1~-OH-D3 5x10 3 1.75 + 0.20 3-D-lc~-OH-D3 0.5 0.83 + 0.05 1.0 1.~9 + 0.20 3-D-lo~,25-(OH)~-D3 ~ 0.5x10 3 1.66 + O.04 1.0x10 3 1.9~ + 0~13 5.0xl0 3 2.21 + 0.27 Four bone pairs were used for each determination lCX,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (1O~,25-(OH)2-D3) 1~-Hydroxycholecalciferol (lc~-oH-D3) 3-Deoxy-1~-hydroxycholecalciferol (3-D-lC~-OH-D3) 3-Deoxy-lo~ r 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (3-D-1O~,25-(OH)2D
Standard error of the mean (S.E.) . .

Example 13 '" `', Determination of Intestinal Calclum Transport ln vivo.a Chicks were maintained on a rachitogenic diet for 3 weeks. The vitamin D3 derivative aissolved in 0.2 ml of 1:1-1,2-propandiol and ethanol was administered interperi-~.- . . .
toneally. After 24 hours, the duodenal loop was lifted out, ' :
~- 34 -' , ~3826~

0.2 ml of a solution of 45calcium chloride (2 uCi) in 95~
ethanol was placed in the loop and ~he loop was returned to the cavity. Thirty minutes thereafter, the chicks were sacrificed by decapitation, the blood was collectea, the serum was separated and the amount of 45calcium absorbed ~rom the duodenal loop was determined radiographically.
Stimulation of Intestinal Calcium Transporta Intestinal Compound Administered Time of Assay Calciumb Relative D~se After Absorption E~tancement ~osing(plasma 45Ca2+~ Control __ (~noles) (hours)(cpm/0.20 ml+SEM) Cbntrol None - 430 + 15 1.0 D3 1.3 10 620 + 18 1.4 D3 1.3 24 1360 + 40* 3.2 D3 2.6 24 2060 + 65* 4.8 D3 26.0 24 1730 _ 72* 4.0 ___ _ __ ____ ________ __ _ __ __ _____ _ __ __ ___ __ __ __ __ ___ ___ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10~,25-(OH)2-D3 0.6 10 1950 + 68* 4.5 loc~25-(oH)2-D3 0.6 24 780 + 21 1.8 _____ ______________________________________ __________ ________________________ aThe steroids were administered intraperitoneally in 0.20 ml of 1,2-prop~utediol: ethanol, 1:1. At the indicated time an assay of intestinal calcium transport was carried out exactly as described by i~ `
Hibberd and Herman (19). For this assay 4.0 mg f 40Ca2+ + 45Ca2+
(2 uCi) are placed in a duodenal loop, in vivo. Thirty minutes later the appearance of 45Ca2+ is measured in~~te blood. Each nL~ber is the average + SEM for gxoups of 6-8 birds.

lues indicated by * are significantly different from ~te control (-D) ~t P ~ 0.01.
Cholecalciferol (D3) 1CY,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (1~,25-OH)2-D3) lC~-Hydroxycholecalciferol (lo~-oH-D3) 3-Deoxy-lC~-hydroxycholecalciferol (3-D-lo~-oH-D3) ~ .

~ . . . . ..

~2~i87 ~~ Stimulation of Intestinal Calcium Transporta Intestinal Ccm~ound A~ministeredTime of AssayCalciumb Relative D~se After Absorption Enhancement Dosing (plasma 45Ca2+~ Overl .
(nmoles) (hours)(c~m/0.20 ml+SEM) 1~-OH-D3 1.6 10 2010 52* 4.7 1~ -D3 0.8 24 1920 + 64* 4.5 ____________________________________________________________ ____________________ .
3-D-16X-OH-D3 26.0 9 1047 + 67* 2.4 3-D-~X -D3 26.0 12 3000 + 220* 7.0 3-D-1~-QH-D3 26.0 24 1930 + 95* 4 5 3-D-lo~-OH-D3 5.2 24 1880 + 96* 4.4 _ ~ontrol (-D) none -- 310 + 15 1.0 _____________ _____________________________ _ ___________________________________ :
loC~25-(oH)2-D3 6.5 8 1100 + 30* 3.5 l~x~25-(oH)2-D3 6.5 12 1200 + 60* 3.9 1~ ,25-(QH)2-D3 6.5 16 1230 + 40* 4.0 C~,25-(OH)2-D3 6.5 36 580 + 15 1.9 o~,25-(OH)2-D3 0.26 12 1000 + 40* 3.2 la ,25-(QH)2-D3 1.30 12 1010 + 25* 3.2 ______________________________________________ _______________________________ .
3D-lC~,25-(QH)2-~3 6.5 8 750 + 30* 2.4 3D-la ,25-(OH)2-D3 6.5 12 800 + 20* 2.4 3D-lc~,25-(OH)2-D3 6.5 16 1060 + 40* 3.4 3D-~ ,25-(QH)2-D3 6.5 36 400 + 12 1.3 3D-lCx,25-(OH)2-D3 0.26 16 370 + 20 1.2 _______________ -- . .
aThe steroids were administered intraperitoneally in 0.20 ml of 1,2-propanediol: ethanol, 1:1. At the indicated time an assay of intestinal ç~lcium tr~nsport was carried out (13). For this assay 4.0 ~q of ~UCa~+ + 4~Ca~+ (2 uCi) are placed in duodenal loop, in vivo. l'hirty munutes later the appearance of 45Ca2+ is measured in the bload. Each number is the average _ SEM of groups of 8-10 birds.
~alues indicated by a * are significantly different from the control ~`
(-D) at P~C û.01. ;

~0~32~

Example 14 lC~,25-Dihydroxycholesteryl Tosylate (16, R' is 4-methylphenyl). A solution of 1 ~ ,25-dihydroxycholesterol (15, 0.5 g, 1.19 mole), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.575 g, 3 mmole) and anhydrous pyridine (5 ml) was allowed to stand in a freezer having a temperature less than 0C for 30 hours. Wor~-up of the reaction mixture as described in Example 6 followed by recrystallization from acetone-petroleum ether afforded 0.552 ~ (81%) of 'he tosylat~e (16, R' is 4-methylphenyl), mp 13~-139~C.

Example 15 lCX,25-Dihydroxy-5-cholestene (17). A solution of lCC,25-dihydroxycholesteryl tosylate tl6, R' is 4-methylphenyl, 0.570 g, 1.00 mmole), lithium aluminum hydride (1.033 g, 27 mmole) and anhydrous ether (150 ml) was heated under reflux for 20 hours.
Work-up of the reaction mixture by the procedure described in Example 3 followed by chromatography of the crude reaction `
mixture on silica gel using low boiling petroleum ether-benzene as the eluent gave 0.282 g (70%) of the diol 17, ;
mp 127-128C and 135-136C.

. '': ~
. .

, :

~8'~687 . ~
Example 16 10~,25-Diacetoxy-5-cholestene (19, R is acetyl).
A solution of lC~,25-dihydroxy-5-cholestene (17, 0.195 g, 0.48~ mmole), acetic anhydride (4 ml) and anhydrous pyridine ~4 ml) was heated at 90C for 24 hours. Work-up by the procedure described in Example 8 followed by filtration of a solution of the residue in 2% acetone-benzene through silica gel and recrystallization from methanol gave the diacetate 20, mp 106-107C.

Example 17 1 ~,25-Dihydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene (20). 1O~,25-Diacetoxy-5-cholestene (19, R is acetyl, 0.223 g, 0.46 mmole) in 1:1 benzene-hexane was treated with 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl-hydantoin (0.675 g, 0.23 mmole) as described in Example 9.
The crude bromo compound in xylene (10 ml) was added dropwise to boiling s-collidine (14 ml) under an atmos-phere of nitrogen. After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was heated under reflux ~or 30 minutes, allowed to cool, worked up in the usual manner and chromato-graphed on 10% silver nitrate impregnated silica gel (linear gradient between equal volumes of petroleum ether and 1:1 ether-petroleum ether). Fractions showing ultra-violet absorption maxima at 280 nm and 312 nm were pooled and concentrated.

': . .

: ' . " ', ,,; , :
, A solution of the residue, 5% methanolic potassium hydroxide (45 ml) was allowed to stand at 25C for 12 hours.
T~ork-up of the reaction mixture in the usual way ~ollowed by chromatography of the residue on silica gel (linear gradient between equal volumes of petroleum ether and ether) gave 17 mg of the dihydroxy diene 20, pure by thin-layer chromatography as detected by ultraviolet irradiation.
The product had mp 151-152~C after recrystalliza-tion from methanol-water.

Example 18 3-Deoxy-1O~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (13a).
1C,25-Dihydroxy-5,7-cholestadiene (12 mg) in ether was irradiated with a 100 watt medium pressure mercury lamp equipped with a Corex glass filter under an atmosphere of nitrogen with ice cooling for 8 minutes by the method described in Example 11 to ~ive 3-deoxy-lC~,25-dihydroxyprecholecalciferol (21).
The 3-deoxy-16~,25-dihydroxyprecholecalciferol (21) from the above was isomerized by heating in iso-octane at 75C for 2.25 hours according to the procedure of Example 11.
Cl~romatography of the residue twice on silver nitrate impreg-nated with silica gel as in Example 17 gave 1.4 mg (12%) of 3-deoxy-1O~,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (13a), homogeneous by thin-layer chromatography. 3-Deoxy-1c~,25-dihydroxychole-calciferol showed the expected ultraviolet absorption maximum at 263 nm and minimum at 288 nm. It also exhibited a mass spectrum having the calculated molecular ion. -~
'' ~ -. , : :. . . . . . :

Claims (11)

The embodiments of the invention in which an ex-clusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula:

wherein Z represents hydrogen, or OR where R is hydrogen or lower alkanoyl, which comprises:
(a) treating a compound of the formula:

with a sulphonyl halide of the formula R1-SO2-X wherein R1 represents a lower alkyl, phenyl or lower alkyl phenyl group, and X represents Cl or Br, in the presence of an acid acceptor to form a sulfonate of the formula:

and subsequently treating this sulfonate with an alkali metal aluminium hydride in an inert organic solvent; or (b) treating a compound of the formula:

wherein Z represents hydrogen, with an alkali metal aluminium hydride in an inert organic solvent to form a diol of the formula:

and subsequently treating this diol with an alkali metal in an ammoniacal solvent in the presence of an ethereal co-solvent.

2. Process according to claim 1 wherein the alkali metal aluminium hydride is lithium aluminium hydride.

3, Process according to claim 1 wherein the inert organic solvent is an ethereal solvent.

4. Process according to claim 3 wherein the solvent is ether.

5. Process according to claim 1 wherein R1 is 4-tolyl.

6. Process according to claim 1(a) wherein the acid acceptor is an organic base.

7. Process according to claim 6 wherein the organic baseis pyidine.

8. Process according to claim 1(b) wherein the alkali metal is lithium.

9. Process according to claim 1(b) wherein the ammoniacal solvent is ammonia.

10. Process according to claim 1(b) wherein the ethereal cosolvent is tetrahyrofuran.

11. A compound of the formula:

wherein Z represents hydrogen or OR where R is hydrogen or lower alkanoyl whenever prepared by the process of claim 1 or by an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.