Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), said process comprising the steps of : a) reacting a compound of formula (II), with an acylating or a silylating agent to produce a compound of formula (III) b) reacting the compound of formula (III) in the presence of palladium acetate or a derivative thereof to produce compound of formula (IV) and c) reacting the compound of formula (IV) with a reducing agent to produce compound of formula (I). The compound of formula I can then be used to produce estetrol.
