In addition, carefully controlling the dehydration of {HEAD ~ 5α,6β dihydroxy 6α,17α dimethylpregnan 3,20 dione} under alkaline conditions in {TAIL ~ the presence} of methanol, provides the novel intermediate 6β hydroxy 6α,17α dimethylpregn 4 ene 3,20 dione in good yields, which, unlike 5α,6β dihydroxy 6α,17α dimethylpregnan 3,20 dione, is readily crystallized from lower alkanols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, etc., to provide pure intermediate product 
In addition , carefully controlling the dehydration of { HEAD ~ 5α,6β dihydroxy 6α,17α dimethylpregnan 3,20 dione } under alkaline conditions in { TAIL ~ the presence } of methanol , provides the novel intermediate 6β hydroxy 6α,17α dimethylpregn 4 ene 3,20 dione in good yields , which , unlike 5α,6β dihydroxy 6α,17α dimethylpregnan 3,20 dione , is readily crystallized from lower alkanols such as methanol , ethanol , isopropanol , etc . , to provide pure intermediate product
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