Recent Advances in Oxasteroids Chemistry

The document from 2007 reviews the synthesis and potential biological activities of oxasteroids, a class of steroid analogues with oxygen atoms incorporated into the steroid nucleus. It covers literature from 1975 to 2006, detailing various synthetic approaches to oxasteroids at different positions on the steroidal skeleton, such as 2-oxasteroids, 3-oxasteroids, and 4-oxasteroids. The review describes specific syntheses, including those with antiandrogenic activity, potential as inhibitors and anabolic agents, and methods like Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. It also discusses the biological activities of oxasteroids, highlighting their potential in medical applications such as the treatment of osteoporosis and breast cancer, and notes specific compounds with enhanced ovulation inhibitory activity and antifertility effects. The document provides a comprehensive overview of the chemistry and biological implications of oxasteroids up to 2007.