New 16-heterocyclic amino steroids

The invention comprises steroids of the formula (wherein R1 is H(OH), H(OAcyl) or = O, NR2R3 is NH2, NHalkyl or Nalkyl2 in which the alkyl groups have at most 6 carbon atoms, N(CH2CH2OH)2, NHCH2COOH, morpholino or piperidino and ring A has one of the following structures in which R4 is hydrogen or acyl, R5 is H(b OH) or = O, R6 is H(a OH) or = O and R7 is H(OH) or = O) and acid-addition salts and quaternary ammonium derivatives thereof; and their preparation by reacting a corresponding 16-halo steroid with ammonia or the appropriate amino compound NHR2R3 and, if desired, reducing a 17-keto compound so obtained to a 17-hydroxy compound and/or acylating a 17-hydroxy compound, and/or converting the product to an acid-addition salt by treatment with an acid or to a quaternary ammonium compound by treatment with an alkyl halide. 3-Acyloxy groups may subsequently be hydrolysed and, if desired, oxidized, and 3-keto groups may be reduced and subsequently acylated. It is stated that 17-keto-16b -halo-steroids give predominantly 16b -amino compounds and 17b -hydroxy-16a -halo-steroid also give 16b -amino compounds, but 17b -hydroxy-16b -halo compounds give mainly 16a -amino derivatives. Detailed examples are given. 16-Halo-steroid starting materials are prepared by enol acylating appropriate 17-keto steroids and treating the thus-obtained D 16-17-acyloxy steroids with halogenating agents to give 16-halo-17-keto-steroids. In the enolacylation esterifiable hydroxy groups present in the molecule, e.g. a 3-hydroxy group, may be esterified, and may subsequently be hydrolysed. The 16-halo-17-keto steroids may be reduced to 17-hydroxy steroids and subsequently acylated. 3-Hydroxy groups present therein may be oxidized or 3-keto groups may be reduced and subsequently acylated. In the Provisional Specification R4 is additionally defined as a hydrocarbon radical, R5 as H(b Oacyl) and R6 as H(a Oacyl).