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The structure and nomenclature of steroids

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Steroid Analysis

Abstract

Four rings of carbon atoms form the basic steroid molecular skeleton. Their arrangement corresponds to that of perhydrocyclopentenophenanthrene (Figure 1.1). Adjoining pairs of rings each share two carbon atoms at ring junctions. Almost all natural steroids possess either one or, more usually, two methyl (CH3) groups at ‘angular’ or ‘bridgehead’ positions where two rings meet (Figure 1.1).

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Kirk, D.N., Marples, B.A. (1995). The structure and nomenclature of steroids. In: Makin, H.L.J., Gower, D.B., Kirk, D.N. (eds) Steroid Analysis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3078-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3078-5_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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