| abstract |
The invention comprises compounds of formula <FORM:1082574/C2/1> wherein R is a C1- 6 alkyl group, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R3 is chlorine or fluorine and R4 is hydrogen or a methyl group, provided that, at least one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, which are prepared from the corresponding 11b ,17a -diols by nitration to form the 11-nitrate, acylation to form the 17-ester and removal of the nitrate group by a non-hydrolytic method, as claimed in Specification 1,082,573. The compounds of the invention have antiinflammatory activity and may be used in pharmaceutical compositions in combination with a carrier in forms suitable for topical administration. |