21063-87-6

-

A group of Δ4 3 keto steroids was prepared by catalytic reduction of suitable conjugated diene 3 keto precursors with tritium gas. Thus, 11α hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20 dione 7 3H (I), 20α hydroxy 4 pregnen 3 one 7 3H (II), 6α methyl 4 pregnene 3,11,20 trione 7 3H (III), 17α hydroxy 6α methyl 4 pregnene 3,20 dione 7 3H, acetate (IV), and 17α hydroxy 6 methyl 3H3 16 methylenepregna 4,6 diene 3,20 dione, acetate (V) were prepared from 11α hydroxypregna 4,6 diene 3,20 dione (VI), 20α hydroxypregna 4,6 dien 3 one (VII), 6 methylpregna 4,6 diene 3,11,20 trione (VIII), 17α hydroxy 6 methylpregna 4,6 diene 3,20 dione, acetate (IX), and 17α hydroxy 6 dibromomethylene 16 methylene 4 pregnene 3,20 dione, acetate (X), respectively. In addition, 3α hydroxy 5β pregnane 11,20 dione 3H, cyclic 20 (trimethylene acetal) (XI) was prepared from I via 11α hydroxy 5β pregnane 3,20 dione 7 3H (XII), 5β pregnane 3,11,20 trione 7 3H (XIII) and 3α hydroxy 5β pregnane 11,20 dione 7 3H (XIV).

This invention relates to novel ring B-secosteroid transformation products, to processes for their preparation and more particularly to compounds embraced by the following formulae: SPC1Wherein R is --CHO, --COOR 1 or --CH 2 OR 2, in which R 1 is hydrogen or methyl and R 2 is hydrogen or acyl; X is SPC2In which R 2 has the meaning given above, R 3 is hydrogen or lower-alkyl and the alkali metal salts of those compounds wherein R is --COOR 1 in which R 1 is hydrogen. The compounds of the above formulae are anti-inflammatory agents, antiandrogenic agents and central nervous system stimulants.