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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Extraction and Analysis of Cortisol from Human and Monkey Hair
Published on: January 24, 2014
Convenient synthesis of 18-hydroxylated cortisol and prednisolone
T Kurosawa1, S Ikegawa, H Chiba
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Higashi-Nippon-Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Abstract:
18,20-Epoxy-11 beta,17 alpha,20 beta,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-en-3-one was synthesized by the application of hypoiodite reaction to the cortisol acetonide. The intermediary 18-iodo derivative was converted to the 11-oxo steroid by chromic acid prior to silver ion-assisted solvolysis. Removal of the protective group with hydrochloric acid was finally carried out to give the desired 11 beta,17 alpha,18,21-tetrahydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione as the hemiacetal form. 18,20-Epoxy-11 beta-17 alpha,20 beta,21- tetrahydroxypregna-1,4-dien-3-one was also prepared from prednisolone through a similar reaction sequence.
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