A Synthesis of Progesterone from Ergosterol1

DA Shepherd, RA Donia, JA Campbell…

Index: Shepherd et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1955 , vol. 77, p. 1212,1215

Full Text: HTML

Citation Number: 49

Abstract

The discovery2a and confirmation2b of a practical method for the conversion of progesterone to cortisone, via an I 1-oxygenated intermediate produced biochemically, has emphasized the need for cheap progesterone in large quantities. Of the naturallyoccurring sterols, ergosterol always has been an extremely attractive starting material because of its almost unlimited potential supply from fermentation processes. Only recently, however, ...