A process for the production and purification of sexual hormone derivatives

摘要

A process for the simultaneous reduction and purification of the male or the female sexual hormone comprises the treatment of the hormones or substances containing them with a hydrosulphite, preferably sodium hydrosulphite. In examples: (1) crude follicle hormone oil is boiled in sodium hydroxide with sodium hydrosulphite, filtered and the active product extracted with ethyl ether. The product is purified by dissolving the residue after removing the ether in sodium hydroxide, neutralizing and again extracting with ether; (2) aqueous sodium hydroxide is added to an alcoholic solution of follicle hormone, and the mixture boiled with aqueous sodium hydrosulphite. The product is filtered and extracted with ether; (3) a sodium hydroxide solution of a crude hormone oil obtained from male urine is boiled with sodium hydrosulphite. The hormone is extracted with ethyl ether and the ethereal solution mixed with olive oil. The ether is then evaporated and the olive oil solution of the hormone is ready for use; (4) crystallized male sex hormone is added to a solution of sodium hydrosulphite in sodium hydroxide, and the mixture boiled. After standing for a day, the hormone is extracted with an organic solvent such as ethyl ether.