Isolation of Hemiketal and Hydroxy Ketone Tautomers of Synthetic Intermediates Each Affording 18-Hydroxycortisol-1,6,7-d₃

During the synthesis of deuterated 18-hydroxycortisol, two of the synthetic intermediates have been found to exist in tautomeric forms as the acyclic 18-hydroxy 20-ketone and the cyclic 18,20-hemiketal corresponding to the previously identified less polar (L) and more polar (M) forms of C-18 hydroxylated steroids, respectively. Specifically, p-chloranil oxidation of 18-hydroxycortisol-17,21-acetonide afforded two isomers of the 6,7-dehydro analogue; separate catalytic reduction of each isomer under deuterium gave a single isomer of acetonide-protected 18-hydroxycortisol-1,6,7-d3 for each, with the more polar isomer giving a more polar product and the less polar isomer giving a less polar product. The more polar product (corresponding to M) was characterized as 18,20-hemiketal; 18-hydroxycortisol-17,21-acetonide-18,20-hemiketal-1,6,7-d3: in the deuterochloroform solution, it was found to slowly convert to a substance consistent with the hydroxy ketone structure with features resembling those of the isolated less polar isomer (corresponding to L). Deacetonidization of each gave 18-hydroxycortisol as a single product, which was characterized as the 18,20-hemiketal. The issues associated with the existence of 18-hydroxysteroids as hydroxy ketones and hemiketals, both in solution and as isolable solids, are discussed.