Abstract: Novel 3-thioketals of 13-polycarbonalkyl-17-ethynyl-17-hydroxygon-4-ene and 13-polycarbonalkyl-17-chlorethynyl-17-hydroxygon-4-ene, with improved separation of activities, i.e. maximizing progestational and minimizing androgenic action, are prepared from the corresponding 3-carbonyl compounds by treatment with dithioethylene ketal in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Abstract: 1. A therapeutic composition having progestational activity comprising as active ingredient a 17-aliphatic carboxylic acid ester of 17.alpha.-ethynyl-18-methyl-19-nortestosterone and a pharmaceutical carrier for said compound.
Abstract: The preparation of 13-methylgon-4-enes and novel 13-polycarbonalkylgon-4-enes by a new total synthesis is described. 13-Alkylgon-4-enes having progestational, anabolic and androgenic activities are prepared by forming a tetracylic gonane structure unsaturated in the 1,3,5(10),9(11) and 14-positions, selectively reducing in the B- and C-rings, and converting the aromatic A-ring compounds so-produced to gon-4-enes by Birch reduction and hydrolysis.