Synthesis of 6alpha-methyldigitoxigenin 3-acetate

In order to determine the influence of a 6alpha-methyl group activity, the 6alpha-methyl derivative of digitoxigenin 3-acetate 14 was prepared and pharmacologically tested in comparison with digitoxigenen 3-acetate. The synthesis of 6alpha-methyldigitoxigenin 3-acetate (14) was performed starting from 21-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (1). According to the cardiac activity determined on guinea-pig isolated heart and by slow infusion in the cat, the 6alpha-methyldigitoxigenin 3-acetate (14) is not more active than digitoxigenin 3-acetate.