Abstract
Since the substances synthesized and discussed in the present thesis are intermediates in the synthesis of the steroid group, it seems that a brief review of the steroids should furnish the necessary background. According to William H. Strain. |"Several classes of substances found in nature are compounds derived from the hydrocarbon cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene, which for the sake of simplicity are called steroids." |These natural compounds are oxygenated, alkyl-substituted derivatives of the parent hydrocarbon, and have the ring system given in the structure below.