Synthesis of 17α-4-amino- and 4-iodophenylestradiols

17α-(4-aminophenyl) estradiol 4 was prepared in three steps starting from commercial estrone. The key step is the addition of aryllithium 2 to the carbonyl at C17 on a protected estrone, which is only possible by activation. The adduct 3b can be transformed into 17α-(4-iodophenyl) estradiol 7 by a Sandmeyer-type reaction with concomitant deprotection.