Heterocyclic steroids: Efficient routes for annulation of pentacyclic steroidal pyrimidines

[Display omitted] The present review highlighted the chemistry and biological activities of pentacyclic steroidal pyrimidines. The synthetic methods, reactivity, and biological significance were described. •A comprehensive review on steroidal pentacyclic pyrimidines.•Synthetic strategies for the annulation of steroidal pentacyclic pyrimidines.•Synthesis of macromolecules, and steroidal pyrimidine N-oxides.•Synthesis of mono-, di-, and tri-peptidyl- linked steroidal pyrimidines.•Diverse and valued biological activities and SAR’s of steroidal pyrimidines. Steroids are components of cell membranes, signaling molecules and are a type of secondary metabolites as a result of their high impact of biological significance. The present review described the literature reports of pentacyclic steroidal pyrimidines as a type of heterocyclic steroids. The main sections included the synthesis of the investigated steroids fused at rings-A or B or D of steroid skeleton, synthesis of binary or linked-type pyrimidines, pyrimidine oxides, macromolecules and mono- or di- or tri-peptides linked-steroidal pyrimidines. Besides, the present research highlighted the biological significance of steroidal pyrimidines, in which the compounds revealed potent anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-Alzheimer agents. In addition, some hetero-steroids were screened for binding DNA assay and gene expression analysis. It was settled that the incorporation of pyrimidine scaffold into steroid basic skeleton is crucial for better biological results.