SE355801

1298219 Steroid precursors F HOFFMANNLA ROCHE & CO AG 20 Nov 1969 [22 Nov 1968] 28140/71 Divided out of 1298214 Heading C2C The invention comprises d, I and dl compounds of Formula I wherein m is 1 or 2; R1 is C 1-5 primary alkyl; R2 is lower alkyl; and Z4 is di- (lower alkoxy) -methylene, phenylenedioxymethylene, a methylene group substituted by a divalent -ORO-, -ORS-, -SRS- or -ORNH- group (where R is lower alkylene), or is a group of formula wherein R6 is H or lower aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbyl and R7 is H, lower alkyl, (lower alkoxy)-(lower alkyl), phenyl-(lower alkyl) or tetrahydropyran-2-yl. The term "lower" means having up to 8 carbon atoms. Compounds I are prepared from compounds II [wherein R2 and R3 are identical lower alkyl groups or one of R2 and R3 is H and the other is lower alkyl, and Z2 is as defined for Z4 above or is #- (lower acyloxy)- or -R6-methylene (where R6 is as defined above)] by (a) hydrogenation to give compounds III, (b) hydrolysis of the latter to give compounds IV and (c) cleavage of the latter to give compounds I. In the examples, steps (b) and (c) are effected in a single procedure using NaOH or KOH without isolation of compounds IV. Compounds II are prepared as described in Specification 1,298,218.