Abstract The long-range effect of substituents in the 17-position on the hydrogenation of double bond of the steroidal∆ 4-3-ketones in acetic acid on a platinum catalyst is described in a series of testosterone (1) and epitestosterone (5) esters with carboxylic acids of varying alkyl chain length. The ratio 5α-to 5β-products is affected by the nature of substituents in the position 17.
