Treatment of (+/-)-4 with Pd(OAc)(2), DPPP, TBAB and K2CO3 in toluene gave 16 beta in a highly stereoselective manner (17:1, 90%). Moreover, reaction of (+/-)-4 with Pd(OAc)(2), (R)-Tol-BINAP and K2CO3 in toluene afforded 16 beta in 96% ee and in 20% yield. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.