A number of 5,10-seco analogs of testosterone has been synthesized starting from products of the radical oxidation of 3 beta,17 beta-diacetoxy-5 alpha-androstan-5 alpha-ol. The obtained compounds possess a flexible 10-membered ring with substituents (=O, -OH) at C-3 and C-5. Similar derivatives with an (E)- and (Z)-Delta(1(10))-double bond have been prepared also. X-ray analysis and a combination of NMR experiments have been used for their structure elucidation and conformation analysis. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.