progesterone synthesis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Endogenous progesterone is synthesized from pregnenolone by formation of a keto group at the C3 position and transfer of a double bond between C5-6 and C4-5.
It can then be used to produce either:
- 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, an intemediate, by hydroxylation at C17, or
- 11-desoxycorticosterone