| abstract |
3-Oxo-6-unsubstituted-7α-halogeno-4-dehydro steroids, wherein said halogen is chlorine, bromine or iodine, are prepared by reaction of a 3-oxo-6,7-di-unsubstituted-4,6-bis-dehydro steroid with at least an equimolar quantity of the corresponding hydrogen halide in a non-reactive organic solvent at temperatures no higher than about 30° C, and then are isolated by removal of said solvent and any excess acid at temperatures no higher than about 25° C without subjecting said 3-oxo-6-unsubstituted-7α-halogeno-4-dehydro steroid to a basic medium. n A preferred species of this process is that wherein the starting steroid is a 3,20-dioxo-9-unsubstituted-11-oxygenated-1,4,6-pregnatriene-17,21-diol or ester thereof, preferably a 17,21-di-lower alkanoate or a 17-benzoate 21-lower alkanoate ester thereof, whereby is prepared in good yields a 3,20-dioxo-7α-halogeno-1,4-pregnadiene-17α,21-diol or ester thereof, useful as topical anti-inflammatory agents. n Also described are novel 3,20-dioxo-7α-halogeno-4-pregnene-17α,21-diols and esters thereof having anti-inflammatory activity as well as 3-oxo-7α-halogeno-17α-4-pregnene-21,17β-carbolactone aldosterone antagonists. |