Preparation of 3-epi-ecdysone and 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysone

3-Dehydro-ecdysone and 3-dehydro-20-hydroxyecdysone were prepared and characterized. Reduction of these compounds with NaBH4 gave 3-epi-ecdysone and 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysone, which were characterized fully by mass and p.m.r. spectrometry as well as by derivative formation.