Synthesis of 3-epi-6,7-dideoxyxestobergsterol A.

3-Epi-6,7-dideoxyxestobergsterol A (2), an analogue of xestobergsterol A, has been synthesized from dehydroepiandrosterone (3) in 15 steps. The key synthetic intermediate, 15beta,16alpha-dioxypregn-17(20)E-ene derivative 8, was prepared from the corresponding 15beta,16beta-epoxide 6 by treating with acetic acid and titanium tetraisopropoxide. The 23-oxo side chain was constructed stereoselectively by orthoester Claisen rearrangement of 8 followed by introduction of an isobutyl group. Basic treatment of the 15,23-diketone 12 followed by deprotection gave the title compound 2.