Studies on organophosphorus compounds VII: Transformation of steroidal ketones with Lawesson's reagent into thioxo and heterofused steroids. Results of antimicrobial and antifungal activity

The reactivity of Lawesson's reagent (LR) toward some steroidal hormones was studied, 4-androsten-3,17-dione 2 reacted with LR to produce the corresponding thioxosteroids 3 and 4. Epi-androsterone 5 showed a great activity to LR and produced 3,6-mercaptospiro(androstan-17,4'dithiaphosphetan)thione 8 and the sulfide derivative 9. Also progesterone 10 reacted with LR to yield the thiaphospholo[3', 4':16,17]androsten-3-one 13 and the sulfide product 16. The new modified steroidal derivatives thieno[2',3:2,3]cholestan 18 and thieno[2',3':2,31-androstan 20 were synthesized and examined against LR, the corresponding thiazaphosphorinothieno steroidal derivatives 23 and 24 were isolated respectively. The in vitro biological activity of some newly synthesized compounds against bacteria, yeast, and fungi was studied.