The condensation of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate with 2-aminobenzimidazole was studied. The polycyclic aromatic product was formed as a single regioisomer in a cascade reaction comprising addition, cyclization, autoxidation, and aromatization, in addition to the rearranged D-homo product. The reaction mechanism based on DFT calculations is proposed.
Keywords: 2-Aminobenzimidazole; Autoxidation; Condensation; Steroids; α-Ketol rearrangement.
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