Improved Aldehyde Synthesis: Preparation of 3α, 7α, 12α-Triacetoxy-5β-Cholan-23-al with Ruthenium Tetroxide in Neutral Medium

Abstract

In relation to our studies on the metabolism of neutral sterols² we have prepared several substituted 24-norcholanic acids. Ruthenium tetroxide was selected as the oxidizing agent^3,4 in the formation of 24-norcholic acid^5,6 from the olefin, 3α, 7α, 12α-triacetoxy-24, 24-diphenyl-5β-chol-23-ene (II), (Fig. 1) since CrO₃ provided multiple products⁵.