Epoxidation of Diosgenin, 25(R)-1,4,6-Spirostatrien-3-one and 25(R)-4,6-Spirostadien-3β-ol

Upon treatment of 25(R)-spirost-5-en-3β-ol (diosgenin), 25(R)-1,4,6-spirostatrien-3-one and 25(R)-4,6-spirostadien-3β-ol with 30% H(2)O(2) and 5% NaOH in methanol, diosgenin did not react, 25(R)-1,4,6-spirostatrien-3-one was converted to 25(R)-1α,2α-epoxy-4,6-spirostadien-3-one and 25(R)-4,6-spirostadien-3β-ol was oxidized to give a small amount of 25(R)-4,6-spirostadien-3-one, while most of the original starting material remained unchanged. On the other hand, reactions of diosgenin, 25(R)-1,4,6-spirostatrien-3-one and 25(R)-4,6-spirostadien-3β-ol with m-chloroperoxy-benzoic acid in chloroform yielded 25(R)-5α,6α-epoxyspirostan-3β-ol, 25(R)-6α,7α-epoxy-1,4-spirostadien-3-one and 25(R)-4β,5β-epoxy-6-spirosten-3β-ol, respectively.