A low-toxicity method for the separation of lanosterol and dihydrolanosterol from commercial mixtures

We describe an inexpensive, low-toxicity and high-yielding method for the production of pure lanosterol and dihydrolanosterol from the commercially available mixture. Optimum conditions are presented for the one-pot production of the intermediate 24,25 vicinal diol of lanosterol acetate (via either epoxidation or hydroxyhalogenation) which is readily separated from the unreacted dihydrolanosterol acetate. The lanosterol diol can then be converted to pure (>97%) lanosterol. Hypophosphorous acid was used for both the conversion of the epoxide to the diol, and as a catalyst for the hydroxyhalogenation by N-halosuccinimides of the olefinic bond

Efficient routes to epimerically-pure side-chain derivatives of lanosterol

A technically simple route is described to individual epimers of side-chain derivatives of lanosterol (3-hydroxy-5-lanosta-8,24-diene). Epimerically pure 24,25-epoxy-, 24,25-dihydroxy- and 24-bromo-25-hydroxy-lanosterol have been prepared in good yield from commercial (50-60%) lanosterol. Hypophosphorous acid was used as a catalyst for the cohalogenation of the 24(25) bond and also for the efficient conversion of 24,25-epoxy- and 24-bromo-25-hydroxylanosterol to epimerically pure 24(R) or 24(S)-24,25-dihydroxylanosterols