Abstract: The invention relates to benzopyrrolobenzodiazepines and quinobenzodiazepines of the formula ##STR1## where X and Y may be the same or different and each is hydrogen, halogen, CF.sub.3, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio and lower alkylsulfonyl, p and q are independently 1 or 2; R.sub.1 is hydrogen when R.sub.2 is bonded to R.sub.3 to form a --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --CH.sub.2 -- group or a --CH.dbd.CH-- group; R.sub.3 is hydrogen when R.sub.1 is bonded to R.sub.2 to form a --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --CH.sub.2 -- group or a --CH.dbd.CH-- group; m is 1 or 2; R.sub.4 is NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 wherein R.sub.5 is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R.sub.6 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or a group of the formula (CH.sub.2).sub.n NR.sub.7 R.sub.8 wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are lower alkyl, and n is 2 or 3, ##STR2## wherein R.sub.9 is lower alkyl, ##STR3## wherein R.sub.10 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, lower alkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted by halogen, CF.sub.

Abstract: The intermediates and processes of this invention provide a new synthetic route for the preparation of pharmaceutically valuable 19-norsteroids. Further, the intermediates and processes of the invention provide a route for the preparation of pharmaceutically valuable estrones. The present invention provides a facile total synthesis of 19.beta.-alkyl-C/D-trans-steroidal materials. This desirable result is obtained via a unique asymmetric induction followed by subsequent stereo-specific reaction steps. As a precursor to the steroidal Ring A, a 3,5-disubstituted-4-isoxazolylmethylene group is employed in this synthesis.