A practical route for the synthesis of 17 substituted steroidal 3-thioxamides

A facile method for the synthesis of a series of new steroidal 3-thioxamides from the 3-oxo compound, variously substituted at the 17 position, is described. The ''one pot'' reaction, using Lawesson's reagent (4-methoxyphenylthionophosphine sulphide dimer) in dichloromethane solution, gives the desired compounds with a high degree of chemoselectivity, in good yields (>80%). (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.