| abstract |
D-Homosteroids of the formula <IMAGE> in which R<6> is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or methyl; R<17a> is hydroxyl or acyloxy and R<20> is hydrogen, lower alkyl, halo-lower-alkyl, hydroxy-lower-alkyl, acyloxy-lower-alkyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl-lower-alkyl, and the dotted 1,2 bond is an optional C-C bond, are prepared by 11-hydroxylation of a corresponding D-homosteroid which is unsubstituted in position 11 using microorganisms or enzymes obtained therefrom. The compounds have an endocrine, in particular corticoid-like, action. |