Robert T. Blickenstaff & Anil C. Ghosh 
Total Synthesis of Steroids [PDF ebook] 
Organic Chemistry: A Series of Monographs, Vol. 30

Organic Chemistry, Volume 30: Total Synthesis of Steroids provides an overall view of steroid total synthesis, including the general approaches, special problems, stereochemical complexities, expansion or contraction of rings, and insertion of hetero atoms. The book discusses the process of designing total syntheses; the biogenetic-like steroid synthesis, including cyclization of terminal epoxides as well as the total synthesis from nonepoxide precursors; and the synthesis of equilenin, estrone, bisdehydrodoisynolic acid, 18, 19-bisnorprogesterone, 19-norpregnanes, and heterocyclic steroids. The text also describes the application of ABD intermediates in the Torgov synthesis; the synthesis of carbocyclics and thiasteroids; and the synthesis from p-anisylcyclohexanes and from C-5, C-8 bridged intermediates. The synthesis based on the type of reaction used in the condensation of the A fragment with the CD portion, as well as the methods of total synthesis in the preparation of 8-azasteroids and 8, 13-diazasteroids are also considered. The book further tackles the synthesis of epiandrosterone, cortisone, aldosterone, 3-hydroxy-5a-pregnan-20-one, latifoline, conessine, and ring C aromatic steroids; the synthesis of trans-benzohydrindane derivatives and other common derivatives; and the synthesis of CD intermediates. Chemists, biochemists, and people involved in the study of steroid total syntheses will find the book invaluable.