| abstract |
Steroid derivatives 5 (Beta) -hydroxy- (Alpha) 6 of general formula (FORMULA) in which R1 signifies a hydrogen atom, an acyl, lower alkyl or tetrahydropyranyl residue and R2, R3 each for itself a hydrogen atom or in common a methylene residue and X signifies an oxygen atom or a group of formula (FORMULA) (or R4 signifies a hydrogen atom or an acyl residue) and (FORMULA) (or R5 signifies a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl residue). The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of such compounds by reaction of steroid 7 (Alpha) -chlorine-5 (Beta), 6 (Beta) -epoxy corresponding in an inert solvent with metallic zinc in a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid or in a dilute mineral acid, at temperatures between room temperature and 100 C, preferably between 40 and 70 C. The compounds thus obtained constitute intermediate products allowing the preparation of 3-keto-steroids (Alpha) 4-6 (Beta), 7 (Beta) -methylene; the latter compounds constitute pharmacologically interesting substances, they are, for example, aldosterone antagonists. |