JPH0564639B

1. Claims for Contracting States BE, CH, LI, DE, FR, GB, IT, LU, NL, SE 17-substituted estradienes of general formula I see diagramm : EP0156284,P17,F3 wherein see diagramm : EP0156284,P17,F4 is see diagramm : EP0156284,P17,F5 or see diagramm : EP0156284,P17,F6 is see diagramm : EP0156284,P17,F7 or see diagramm : EP0156284,P17,F8 and R is alkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkyl having up to 5 carbon atoms. 1. Claim for Contracting State AT Process for the preparation of 17-substituted estradienes of general formula I see diagramm : EP0156284,P20,F3 wherein see diagramm : EP0156284,P20,F4 is see diagramm : EP0156284,P20,F5 or see diagramm : EP0156284,P20,F6 is see diagramm : EP0156284,P20,F7 or see diagramm : EP0156284,P20,F8 and R is alkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkyl having up to 5 carbon atoms, characterized in that, in a manner known _p_e_r_ _s_e, a) a compound of general formula II see diagramm : EP0156284,P21,F1 wherein R has the meanings given in formula I, Y stands for X wherein any free hydroxy groups present can be etherified with a group that can be readily split off under acidic conditions and Z is an ethylene or 2,2-dimethylpropylene group, is treated, for the purpose of ketal cleavage, removal of any protecting group that may be present and that can be split off with an acid and for simultaneously splitting off water with the formation of the 4,9-dien-3-one system, with a dilute acid, with the pyridinium salt of a strong acid or with an acidic ion exchanger, and optionally the resulting 17 alpha-(3-hydroxypropyl) or 17 alpha-(3-hydroxypropenyl) compound is cyclized to the 17-spiro-hydrofuran compound or oxidized to the 21,17-carbolactone, or b) a compound of general formula III see diagramm : EP0156284,P21,F2 wherein R has the meanings given in formula I, X' is see diagramm : EP0156284,P21,F3 or see diagramm : EP0156284,P21,F4 and Z is an ethylene or 2,2-dimethylpropylene group, is treated, for the purpose of ketal cleavage and simultaneously splitting off water with the formation of the 4,9-dien-3-one system, with a dilute acid, with the pyridinium salt of a strong acid or with an acidic ion exchanger, and optionally the resulting 21,17-carbolactone is reduced to the 17 alpha-(3-hydroxypropyl) or 17 alpha-(3-hydroxypropenyl) compound, and the concomitantly reduced 3-keto group is reoxidized with manganese dioxide, or c) a compound of general formula IV see diagramm : EP0156284,P22,F1 wherein see diagramm : EP0156284,P22,F2 and R have the meanings given in for