Facile Synthesis of Hydroquinone Linked 3,3’‐Steroid Dimers via a Modified Mitsunobu Protocol

A successful approach for the construction of steroid dimers with a hydroquinone linker under PBu3/TMAD/Et3N/toluene conditions is described. This study provided a new one‐step methodology for the design and synthesis of bis‐steroidal 1,4‐phenylene diethers using mild and effective reagents. An efficient one‐step procedure for the synthesis of O,O‐1,4‐phenylene‐linked saturated steroid dimers through a modified Mitsunobu protocol is described. The formation of hydroquinone dialkyl ethers from secondary alcohols (steroidal or nonsteroidal) requires the use of a three‐component PBu3/TMAD/Et3N system in a non‐polar solvent. This method allows for the synthesis of a wide range of products with potential biological activity.