Steroid spiro-oxazolidine derivs. - with anti:aldosterone activity free from antiandrogenic side effects

Steroid spirooxazolidines of formula (I) and their stereoisomers are new: In (I) (R1 is 1-4C alkyl, R2 is H, 1-4C alkyl, 1-4C (sic) alkenyl or di(1-3C) alkylphosphinoxymethyl. Z is one of the gps. In A, when R1 is R4, c is a double bond; when R1 is R5 then b only; b and d; a and b; or a, b and d are double bonds, all others are single bonds, e and f can be double or single bonds. R3=H or CH3. R4=F, OH, 1-3C acyloxy, 1-4C alkoxycarbonyloxy, oxo, oximino or 1-3C alkoxy-imino. R5=oxo, oximino or 1-3C alkoxy-imino R6=1-3C alkyl). Where Z is (XII); f=single bond) and R1 and R6 are CH3, then R2 is not H or 1-4C alkyl. (I) have powerful anti-aldosterone (diuretic) activity but at therapeutic doses are free from anti-androgenic side effects. Some also have hormonal activity. In an example androsta-5-ene-3 beta-ol-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) was made from N-ethoxycarbonyl-17 alpha-CH3NHCH2-androsta-5-ene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol.