GB938109A - 7-substituted steroids - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises 7-sulphur substituted steroids of the pregnene, androstane and androstene series of the formula: <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/1> wherein Y is <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/2> in which R4 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl or a lower alkanoyloxy group, then R3 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; R1 is a methyl group, R2 is a lower alkylthio, thiocyano, lower alkylsulphinyl or lower alkyl sulphonyl group; <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/3> is the trivalent radical <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/4> ; and C3-C11 is the trivalent radical <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/5> or <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/6> and wherein when Y is OR5 in which R5 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkanoyl group, then R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical; R3 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; R2 is a lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulphinyl or lower alkyl sulphonyl radical; <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/7> is the trivalent radical <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/8> , <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/9> or <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/100> and wherein R1 is the methyl radical, R2 is a lower alkylthio radical, <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/112> is the <FORM:0938109/IV(a)/123> radical and R3 is a lower alkyl radical, wherein the lower alkyl and lower alkanoyl groups contain 1-6 carbon atoms and a process for preparing 7-sulphur substituted steroids of the pregnane and androstane series which comprises treating the corresponding D 4,6-3-keto steroid with a lower alkyl mercaptan, a lower alkyl thiolic acid, or thiocyanic acid and then if desired oxidising the 7-lower alkylthio steroid so formed to the 7-lower alkylsulphinyl or 7-lower alkylsulphonyl steroid. The reaction with low alkyl mercaptans is preferably effected in the presence of a strong mineral acid at 5-10 DEG C. and the reaction with low alkyl thiolic acid at 80 DEG -110 DEG C. Specification 792,727 is referred to.