The design and synthesis of new steroidal compounds as potential mimics of taxoids

Eight new steroidal compounds bearing the phenylisoserine and benzoate side-chains of docetaxel were synthesised as potential mimics of antitumour taxoids. They were readily obtained either from cholic acid or from 4-androstene-3,17-dione by a reductive Tsuji-Trost/reduction one-pot reaction, Two compounds showed an unexpected inhibitory activity of tubulin assembly.