Potential bile acid metabolites. XV. Synthesis of 4 beta-hydroxylated bile acids; unique bile acids in human fetal bile.

The 4 beta-hydroxylated derivatives of lithocholic, deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, and cholic acids were synthesized from their respective parent compounds. The principal reactions employed were 1) beta-face cis-dihydroxylation of delta 3 intermediates with osmium tetroxide-N-methylmorpholine N-oxide, 2) selective cathylation of vicinal 3 beta,4 beta-diols followed by oxidation of the resulting 4 beta-monocathylates, or direct selective oxidation at C-3 of 3 beta,4 beta-diols with pyridinium chlorochromate, and 3) stereoselective reduction of the 3-oxo compounds with tert-butylamine-borane complex. The results of analysis of the prepared 4 beta-hydroxylated bile acids with a diequatorial trans-glycol structure and their 3 beta-epimers by proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies are briefly discussed along with the mass spectrometric properties.