“…A solution of the known 4/3,5/3-epoxy-17/3-hydroxyestran-3-one (Mihailovic et al, 1977; 600 mg, 2.1 mmol), selenium dioxide (460 mg, 4.1 mmol), and acetic acid (2 mL) in 2methyl-2-propanol (150 mL) was refluxed for 14 h under N2. The reaction was worked up and the product purified by flash chromatography as described above and crystallized from ethyl acetate/hexane to give 500 mg (83%) of the desired epoxyenone: mp 125-126 °C; [a]25D +265°( c 1.4, MeOH); IR (KBr) 3440, 3040, 2940, 1680, 1612, 1445, 1260 cm'1; NMR (CDC13) 0.83 (s, 3 H, I8-CH3), 3.25 (dd, J = 2.0 and 1.2 Hz, 2 , H-4), 3.68 (br t, 1 , H-17), 5.98 (ddd, J = 10.7, 2.0, and 1.2 Hz, 1 , H-2), 6.74 (dd, J = 10.7 and 5.3 Hz, 1 H, H-l); mass spectrum, m/z 288 (M+).…”