PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF 4-AMINO-ANDROSTENEDIONE DERIVATIVES

4-Amino androstenedione derivatives of formula (I) wherein one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen and the other is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl or C2-C6 alkynyl; and the symbol --- indicates that each of (x) and (y), independently, is a single bond or a double bond; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are aromatase inhibitors, are prepared by reacting a compound of formula (II) wherein E is a halogen atom and R1, R2, (x) and (y) are as defined above, with ammonia and, if desired, salifying a compound of formula (I) or obtaining a free compound of formula (I) from a salt thereof.