Hydrogenation of Digitalis Genins and Anhydrogenins

Abstract
Hydrogenation of the 14,15-unsaturated linkage in the digitalis β–anhydrogenins without simultaneous reduction of the cyclobutenolide group is described. The reduced compounds have an α configuration for the hydrogen at C(14). Hydrogenation of the cyclobutenolide ring produces two isomeric compounds which have been separated and assigned to the 20α and 20β steroid series respectively.