Synthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfatide and 16 alpha-halogenated steroids

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfatide was prepared in a 68% yield by the reaction of 5-androstene-3 beta-ol-17-one 3 sulfate (silver salt) with dipalmitoyl alpha-iodopropylene glycol. The sulfatide was found to be a more potent inhibitor of human glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase than dehydroepiandrosterone. 16 alpha-Halogenated steroids also were prepared by direct halogenation of the steroid or indirect halogenation of an appropriate steroidal intermediate. Among various halogenated steroids, 16 alpha-bromoepiandrosterone was 50 times as potent as dehydroepiandrosterone as an inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.