Catalytic oxidative processes in steroid chemistry:: Allylic oxidation, β-selective epoxidation, alcohol oxidation and remote functionalization reactions

The preparation of steroids containing oxygenated functions in suitable positions of the steroid nucleus is of great importance and can be achieved by means of several oxidative processes. In this paper allylic oxidation, beta-selective epoxidation, alcohol oxidation and remote functionalization reactions in steroid substrates are reviewed. Focus has been given to catalytic processes because of their major importance from the viewpoint of synthetic organic chemistry.