Oxidation of Hecogenin and Diosgenin Derivatives with Dimethyldioxirane

Diacetyl derivative of hecogenin 1 was oxidized to unsaturated ketone 5 via allylic alcohol 3 when it reacted with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO). The structure of 3 was confimed by X-ray crystal analysis and the highly regioselectivity of DMDO to different olefin bonds was also observed when diosgenin derivative 6 was treated with DMDO.