Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of 13-Alpha Epimer Estrogens

Abstract

Estrogenic hormones derived from agricultural and pharmaceutical industries are common pollutants. The concentration of steroidal pollution in natural bodies of water has therefore been increasing with rising demands. These pollutants may be detected with fluorescence and treated through photolysis. Photolysis breaks the estrogenic pollutants down, which may reduce their harmful effects. A synthesis was adapted using estrone or 3-methoxy-estrone, o-phenylenediamine, and glacial acetic acid to produce the steroidal epimers more efficiently than with photolysis. Spectroscopy was used to characterize their properties of these structures. The epimer of estrone is more fluorescent and degrades more slowly than estrone. ​