Total synthesis of new steroids having an aromatic A ring with a 3-OH

A new strategy for introducing an hydroxy group at the position 3 of an aromatic A ring in a steroid, which is a key position for biological purposes, is described. This procedure has required a judicious choice of a t-butyl ether as protective group at the beginning of the synthesis, and its deprotection can be achieved in high yield in the final step.