Synthesis of Steroidal Oxazoles

Abstract

Substituted oxazoles were recognized as intermediates for the synthesis of antibiotics¹ and used as azadienes in Diel's-Alder reactions.^2-5 Certain oxazole derivatives have been reported to possess biological activities such as hypertensive,⁶ analgesic,⁷ fungicide,⁸ antiinflammatory⁹', ¹⁰antiviral,¹¹ antibacterial,¹¹ antitubercular¹² and anticonvulsant.¹³ These synthetic and pharmaceutical significance prompted us to undertake the synthesis of steroidal oxazoles (2-a and 2-b) from easily accessible steroidal oximes (1-a and 1-b).