STEROIDVERBINDUNGEN

1440064 A8(9)-Steroids of the pregnane series GLAXO LABORATORIES Ltd 10 Aug 1973 [11 Aug 1972] 37656/72 Heading C2U [Also in Division A5] Novel steroids of the formula wherein R 1 is -COC 2 H 5 or -COC 3 H 7 (n- or iso-) and R 2 is H, -COCH 3 , -COC 2 H 5 or -COC 3 H 7 (n- or iso-) are prepared (1) by dehydrohalogenation of steroids of the formula (wherein X is Cl or Br) which may in turn be prepared by addition of HOX to the corresponding 9,11-unsubstituted-#9(11)-steroids; or (2) by conversion of corresponding 17 α,21-diols to ortho-esters by reaction with R1C(0R11) 3 wherein R1 is C 2 H 5 , n-C 3 H 7 or iso-C 3 H 7 and R11 is C 1-4 alkyl followed by hydrolysis to give 17α- acyloxy-21-ols as products which may subsequently be 21-acylated. Starting materials corresponding to the first structural formula above but containing a free 17α-OH group are prepared by method (1) above using a free 17α-ol starting material. 11#,17α,21- Trihydroxy - 16# - methylpregna - 1,4,8(9)- triene-3,20-dione is prepared by hydrolysis of the corresponding 21-acetate. 16#-Methyl- 17 α,21 - dipropionylocypregna - 1,4,9(11) - triene - 3,20- dione is prepared by acylation of the corresponding 21-ol. The corresponding 21-acetate is prepared similarly. 9α-Bromo- 11#-hydroxy- 16# - methyl - 17 α,21 - dipropionyloxypregna- 1,4-diene-3,20-dione is also prepared similarly. The novel steroids are anti-inflammatory agents and may be made up into pharmaceutical compositions with suitable carriers (see Division A5).