Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a compound, which has an oxo group specifically introduced on the 15-position of a steroid skeleton and which is useful as an intermediate, with a high yield without complicated steps. A compound represented by the formula (2) is allowed to react with an oxidant (e.g., a hypervalent iodine compound) and a co-oxidant (e.g., a peroxide) to produce a 15-oxosteroid compound represented by the formula (1), which is useful as an intermediate: wherein R1 to R3 are the same or different and each represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a haloalkoxy group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an acyl group, R6 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, or a sulfonyl group, X represents an oxygen atom (O) or a methylene group (CH2).

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a compound, which has an oxo group specifically introduced on the 15-position of a steroid skeleton and which is useful as an intermediate, with a high yield without complicated steps. A compound represented by the formula (2) is allowed to react with an oxidant (e.g., a hypervalent iodine compound) and a co-oxidant (e.g., a peroxide) to produce a 15-oxosteroid compound represented by the formula (1), which is useful as an intermediate: wherein R1 to R3 are the same or different and each represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a haloalkoxy group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an acyl group, R6 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, or a sulfonyl group, X represents an oxygen atom (O) or a methylene group (CH2).