Methoxylation of enolizable steroidal 4-ene-3-ones using hypervalent iodine

Abstract

Reaction of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) with o-iodosylbenzoic acid in methanolic potassium hydroxide gave the methoxylated products, the 4- and 6β-methoxides (2) and (3), along with the dehydrogenated compound, the 4,6-dienone (4).