GB813529A - Improvements in or relating to steroidal compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises cyclopentanophenanthrene compounds of the general formula: <FORM:0813529/IV (b)/1> wherein A represents an ethylene (-CH2-CH2-) or vinylene (-CH = CH-) radical, Z represents a carbonyl or hydroxymethylene radical and R represents a hydrocarbon radical containing less than 9 carbon atoms. The compounds may be prepared by reacting the required 21-hydroxy substituted compounds with a compound of the general formula: <FORM:0813529/IV (b)/2> wherein R has the above significance and X represents a halogen, e.g. chlorine. The radical R may be an alkyl, aromatic, non-aromatic cyclic or partially cyclic hydrocarbon radical. The reaction is preferably carried out in a solution or suspension in an unreactive medium such as chloroform, and in the presence of a basic catalyst such as pyridine. In the examples the following compounds are prepared: 17a -hydroxy - 3,11,20 - trioxo - 4 - pregnen - 21 - yl ethyl carbonate and the corresponding D 1,4-compound, 11b ,17a - dihydroxy - 3,20 - dioxo-4-pregnen-21-yl ethyl carbonate and the corresponding D 1,4-compound, and 17a -hydroxy-3,11,20 - trione - 4 - pregnen - 21 - yl phenyl carbonate, b -cyclohexylethyl carbonate, methyl carbonate and n-pentyl carbonate. b -Cyclohexylethyl chloroformate is prepared by treating 2-cyclohexylethanol with phosgene.