pregn-4-ene-3, 2O-dione (16), 8 ml of EtOH, and 2 ml of 10% NaOH was refluxed for 0.5 hr. The mixt was cooled, dild with water, and acidified to pH 2 with HC1. The cryst product was fiitered and recrystd several times from MeOH-water and once from CHC1,-hep tane to yield 0.20 g (20.7%) of 17. Acknowledgment. The authors wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Mrs. AB Bakker-Vader, NC ME Barendse, CAM Gijben, PJ Jaarsma, F. ...
