,!-Butyl hypochlorite (TBH), a readily prepared'reagent of considerable stability, has been used to oxidize 8-phenylethyl and benzyl alcohols to the corresponding aldehydesJ2 but the reaction with secondary alcohols has been reported only recently. We have found that TBH in t-butyl alcohol without added pyridine3" oxidizes the 3-hydroxysteroids smoothly and in excellent yields to the corresponding 3-ketosteroidsJ which may be isolated in a high state ...
