Synthetic procedures for the preparation of deuterium-labeled analogs of naturally occurring steroids.

The object of this article is to review the procedures that have been published concerning the preparation of deuterium-labeled analogs of naturally occurring steroid hormones. In combination with mass spectrometric methods, these stable isotope-labeled compounds should be applicable for human metabolism studies or as internal standards. Deuteration techniques for the elucidation of stereochemical problems, procedures for the preparation of monodeuterated steroids, and synthesis of deuterated analogs of nonbiologic steroids have therefore not been included in this review.