Oxidative functionalization (or removal) of a steroidal C18 methyl group is possible using a previously unknown dyotropic rearrangement of a seven-membered fused C-ring lactone to a 6-ring spiro lactone. Spiroketal equilibration led to the 23-deoxy South analogue of cephalostatin 1 (1) in only 12 steps (23% overall yield) from hecogenin acetate 4, and to strained diene South 1 analogue 30 in 11 steps (28% overall). Total synthesis of 23'-deoxy cephalostatin 1 (3) was accomplished in 16 operations from 4 (9% overall; average 86% yield per operation), and that of 16',17'-dehydro-23'-deoxy cephalostatin 1 (36) in 15 operations from 4 (8% overall; av 84%/op).
Oxidation-Reduction Phenazines