Photolysis of Steroidal 20-Aryl-Substituted 11-Nitrites

The two structurally similar 20‐phenyl‐ and 20‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐11‐(nitrosooxy)pregnan‐20‐ol derivatives 4 and 7 behave differently under photolytic conditions, the former nitrous acid ester affording, as a main product, the benzo‐fused hexacyclic compound 9, and the latter the 21‐nitro derivative 12. Mechanistic aspects of these transformations are discussed.