2‐(Hydroxymethyl)androstene Derivatives

Abstract 3‐Hydroxy‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐ ( 2 and 3 ) and 3‐hydroxymethyl‐3‐oxoandrostenes 4 were prepared from 2‐hydroxymethylene derivatives 1 . The configurations of the chiral centers were determined on the basis of chiroptical, spectroscopical, and X‐ray analytical data. Furthermore, elimination reaction products ( 5, 6 ) were identified.