A title compound (I) (4.8 g) in THF containing 2.4 mol/L BH3 was allowed to react at room temperature for 48 h, the reaction mixture was cooled, H2O added to decompose the unreacted BH3, a solution of Na2Cr2O7 in 20% H2SO4 was added, and the resulting mixture stirred at room temperature for 2 h to give unsatd. estrane derivatives II-IV in 2.3, 0.6, and 0.88 g yields, resp.

Key words: ESTRONE, STEROIDS, CHROMIC ACID, OXIDATION REACTION, HYDROBORATION