17-AMINO-16-HYDROXY STEROIDS OF THE ANDROSTANE AND OESTRANE SERIES AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF, PROCESSES FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS

NOVEL 17-AMINO-16-HYDROXY STEROIDS OF THE ANDROSTANE AND OESTRANE SERIES AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF, PROCESSES FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS. New and pharmacologically useful 17-amino-16-hydroxy-steroids of the androstane and oestrane series are disclosed having the formula I: I and pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acid addition salts thereof, wherein: R1 = H or hydrocarbyl of one to six carbon atoms (preferably lower alkyl, such as methyl); R2 = H or hydrocarbyl of one to six carbon atoms (preferably lower alkyl, such as methyl); R3 = a free, esterified or etherified hydroxyl group; ring A inclusive carbon atoms 6 and 9 has one of ? in which R4 = a free, esterified or etherified hydroxyl group; R5 = O or H(R7), wherein R7 is a free, esterified or etherified hydroxyl group; R6 = H or methyl; and the dotted lines represent an optional double bond in 4,5- or 5,6-position; as well as the enantiomers and racemates of these steroids. The novel compounds have antiarrhythmic properties.