| abstract |
(A) Corticoids of formula (I) are new (the bonds ---- are single or double; X is H, F, Cl or Me; Y is H and Z is H, F or Cl, or Y and Z together form a C-C bond; V is beta-hydroxymethylene, beta-chloromethylene or carbonyl; W is methylene, ethylidene or vinylidene; Q is O or S; R1 is 1-8C alkyl, opt. interrupted by an O atom, or is benzyl and R2 is H or 1-4C alkyl, or R1 and R2 together form trimethylene or tetramethylene; R3 is H, F, Cl or a free or sterified OH gp.). (B) Prepn. of 11 beta-hydroxysteroids of the pregnane series, substd. in the 17 alpha position by acetal gps. of formula (X) comprises fermenting a similarly substd. 11-desoxysteroid of the pregnane series with a culture of Curvularia (pref. Curvularia lunata). (I) are antiinflammatories with a topical activity greater than that of the previously known 17 alpha-hydroxycroticoids and 17 alpha-hydroxycorticoids in which the 17 alpha-gp. has been esterified. |