β-Side catalytic hydrogenation and the molecular structure of 17β-Hydroxy-1,4-Androstadien-3-One: p-bromophenol (1:1)

β-Side hydrogenation of the C(1)-C(2) double bond in 17β-hydroxy-1,4-androstadign-3-one by heterogeneous catalysis is explained in terms of precise Molecular conformation of the steroid obtained fron X-ray crystallographlc determination of the steroid:p-bromophenol (1:1) complex structure. This explanation serves as an example of how conformatlonal details can be correlated with molecular function. The steroid self-association interactions in the solid indicate that great care must be exerted in specifying the total α- or β-side of steroid molecules as the primary determinants of molecular function. The nature of this complex and its implications concerning other complexes of steroid molecules with molecules of biological importance is summarized.