Abstract: Novel sterol derivatives of formula (I), in which: R1 represents a hydroxyl group or protected hydroxyl group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom and a double bond is present at c, or R1 and R2 together represent an oxo group and a double bond is present at b or double bonds are present at a and b; R3 represents a methyl group having ?- or ?-configuration; R4 and R5, which may be the same or different, are selected from hydrogen atoms and aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic and aryl groups, or together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a heterocyclic group; and X represents a polymethylene group containing 2–5 carbon atoms, an oxa group-containing analogue thereof in which a methylene group other than that attached to the —CO.NR4R5 moiety is replaced by an oxygen atom, or an unsaturated analogue thereof containing up to two double bonds.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) in which: R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an O-protecting group; R2 represents a hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, carboxaldehyde, lower alk-1-enyl or hydroxy- or lower alkoxy-substituted lower alkyl group; R3 represents a methyl group having ?- or ?-configuration; X represents a C1-3 alkylene group or a valence bond; Y represents a carboxaldehyde group or a group of formula —C(R4)(R5)OR1 where R1 is as defined above and R4 and R5, which may be the same or different, are each selected from hydrogen atoms, alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups such that the total carbon content of R4 and R5 does not exceed three atoms, with the proviso that X is a valence bond when both R4 and R5 are other than hydrogen; and the dotted line signifies that a double bond may optionally be present at the 16(17)-position exhibit potent cell modulating activity, including antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects.

Abstract: Formula (I) in which: R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represents a lower alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; R3 represents a methyl group having ?- or ?-configuration; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an etherifying or esterifying group; R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a lower alkoxy group; X represents a group OR4, or a group NR6R7 wherein R6 represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic or araliphatic group, or an acyl group comprising an aliphatic, araliphatic or aryl group linked to the nitrogen atom by way of a carbonyl group; and R7 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; Y represents a lower alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl, etherified hydroxyl or esterified hydroxyl group; exhibit potent effects on modulation of cell growth and differentiation, while having low calcaemic activity.

Abstract: Compounds of Formula (I) in which: R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represents a lower alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; R3 represents a methyl group having ?- or ?-configuration; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an etherifying or esterifying group; R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a lower alkoxy group; X represents a group OR4, wherein R4 is as defined above, or a group NR6R7 wherein R6 represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic or araliphatic organic group, or an acyl group comprising an aliphatic, araliphatic or aryl organic group linked to the nitrogen atom by way of a carbonyl group; and R7 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; Y represents a lower alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl, etherified hydroxyl or esterified hydroxyl group; and the dotted lines signify that double bonds may be present at the 16(17)-position and/or either at the 6(7)- and 8(9)-positions or at the 7(8)-position exhibit potent effects on modulation of

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel 1.alpha.-hydroxy vitamin D derivatives in which the 17-position side chain carries an azide or optionally substituted 1,2,3-triazole group, including compounds of general formula (I) where R.sup.1 represents a methyl group having .alpha.- or .beta.-configuration; W represents a valence bond or a C.sub.1-5 alkylene group; X represents azide or an optionally substituted triazole group; and A.dbd. represents a cyclohexylidene moiety characteristic of the A-ring of a 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D or analogue thereof. Active compounds of the invention exhibit cell modulating activity while exhibiting a substantial lack of calcaemic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel 1.alpha.-hydroxy vitamin D derivatives in which the 17-position side chain carries an azide or optionally substituted 1,2,3-triazole group, including compounds of general formula (I) where R.sup.1 represents a methyl group having .alpha.- or .beta.-configuration; W represents a valence bond or a C.sub.1-5 alkylene group; X represents azide or an optionally substituted triazole group; and A=represents a cyclohexylidene moiety characteristic of the A-ring of a 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D or analogue thereof. Active compounds of the invention exhibit cell modulating activity while exhibiting a substantial lack of calcaemic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aryl group or together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a heterocyclic group; R.sup.3 represents a methyl group having .alpha.- or .beta.-configuration; one of R.sup.a and R.sup.b represents a hydroxy group or protected hydroxy group and the other represents a hydrogen atom; Y represents a valence bond or an alkylene group containing up to 3 carbon atoms; and A= represents a cyclohexylidene moiety characteristic of the A-ring of a 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D or analogue thereof. Active compounds of the invention exhibit separation of cell modulating and calcaemic activities coupled with enhanced duration of activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to vitamin D amine and amide derivatives of general formula ##STR1## where R represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic group, or an acyl group comprising an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, arylaliphatic or aryl group linked to the nitrogen atom by way of a carbonyl group; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each selected from lower alkyl and cycloalkyl groups or together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a lower cycloalkyl group; R.sup.3 represents a methyl group having .alpha.- or .beta.-configuration; Y represents a lower alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl, etherified hydroxyl or esterified hydroxyl group; and A.dbd. represents a cyclohexylidene moiety characteristic of the A-ring of a 1 .alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D or analogue thereof. Active compounds of the invention exhibit cell modulating activity and in certain cases may also have an effect on calcium metabolism.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl protecting group, Y represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally protected hydroxyl group, X represents the residue of a dienophile and either R.sup.1 represents a halogen atom a hydrocarbylsulphonyloxy group or a group of the formula --Z--R.sup.3 (in which Z represents --O--, --S--, --SO--, --NR.sup.4 -- or --CR.sup.4 R.sup.5 -- and R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched aliphatic group having 1-12 carbon atoms and which may optionally carry one or more substituents) and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent an oxo group or an optionally substituted alkylidene group, except that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the group --CH(CH.sub.3)CH-- to which they are attached do not represent a group having the branched 17.beta.-hydrocarbyl side chain skeleton of vitamin D.sub.2 or vitamin D.sub.

Abstract: 1-unsubstituted 5,6-trans vitamin D compounds are 1.alpha.-hydroxylated by Se.sup.IV oxidation in the presence of selenous acid at a pH in the range 3-9. The oxidation is preferably effected using a 1-unsubstituted-3-trihydrocarbylsilyloxy-5,6-trans vitamin D compound in the presence of a co-oxidant.

Abstract: Saturated organic compounds containing a hydrogen atom bound to a tertiary carbon atom may be electrophilically fluorinated by reaction with an electrophilic fluorinating agent such as molecular fluorine or trifluoromethyl hypofluorite under conditions whereby the formation of free fluorine radicals is suppressed, e.g. by the presence of a free radical inhibitor such as oxygen or nitrobenzene, the reactants being substantially homogeneously dispersed in a liquid medium, e.g. a solvent medium such as fluorotrichloromethane or chloroform/fluorotrichloromethane, so that the said hydrogen atom is electrophilically replaced by a fluorine atom. The fluorination is highly selective and, in the case of complex substrates such as saturated steroids which contain a number of tertiary C--H bonds, may be substantially completely confined to replacement of the hydrogen atom at the tertiary carbon atom which has the highest electron density about the C--H bond.

Abstract: 1-Hydroxy-5,6-trans vitamin D compounds are prepared by oxidizing a 5,6-trans vitamin D compound using a selenic ester which may be formed in situ using selenous acid or selenium dioxide in the presence of an alcohol.

Abstract: N,N-difluoroamines are prepared by fluorination of compounds containing a >C.dbd.N-- bond using molecular fluorine or a hypofluorite in which the fluoroxy group is bonded to an inert electron attracting group, such hypofluorites including fluoroalkyl hypofluorites such as trifluoromethyl hypofluorite. The fluorination is advantageously conducted in the presence of an alkanol or other nucleophilic compound. Suitable starting materials include imino ethers and esters and aliphatic and aromatic Schiff's bases, use of the latter being particularly convenient.

Abstract: Novel compounds of general formula ##STR1## (where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups; and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, represent alkyl groups which may carry substituents, R.sup.4 alternatively representing a hydrogen atom; or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the intervening N represent a heterocyclic group or an acid-addition salt thereof) are provided, together with a process for their preparation. The new compounds are useful as antidepressants.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 5,6-cis- and 5,6-trans-10,19-dihydro-vitamin D derivatives which comprises hydrogenating a corresponding vitamin D compound in the presence of a ligand-coordinated homogeneous transition metal catalyst whereby the C-19 methylene group of the vitamin D compound is converted into a methyl group.

Abstract: The Specification describes a synthetic route for the preparation of a 9,11-dehydro-3-oxygenated 17.alpha.-hydroxy-20-ketopregnane which comprises the steps (i) electrophilically fluorinating a saturated 9,11-unsubstituted 3-oxygenated-17.alpha.-(esterified hydroxy)-20-ketopregnane, (ii) dehydrofluorinating the resulting 9.alpha.-fluorosteroid, if desired after transformations elsewhere in the molecule have been effected, and (iii) cleaving the ester group at the 17.alpha.-position to generate a 17.alpha.-hydroxy group.

Abstract: Saturated organic compounds containing a hydrogen atom bound to a tertiary carbon atom may be electrophilically fluorinated by reaction with an electrophilic fluorinating agent such as molecular fluorine or trifluoromethyl hypofluorite under conditions whereby the formation of free fluorine radicals is suppressed, e.g. by the presence of a free radical inhibitor such as oxygen or nitrobenzene, the reactants being substantially homogeneously dispersed in a liquid medium, e.g. a solvent medium such as fluorotrichloromethane or chloroform/fluorotrichloromethane, so that the said hydrogen atom is electrophilically replaced by a fluorine atom. The fluoroination is highly selective and, in the case of complex substrates such as saturated steroids which contain a number of tertiary C--H bonds, may be substantially completely confined to replacement of the hydrogen atom at the tertiary carbon atom which has the highest electron density about the C--H bond.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula ##STR1## are provided wherein the substituents R, which may be the same or are different, represent hydrogen atoms or hydrocarbyl groups and the groups R.sup.1 represent hydrocarbyl groups or adjacent pairs of substituents R, or R and R.sup.1 together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached may constitute a non-aromatic ring structure, said hydrocarbyl groups or ring structure if desired carrying one or more substituents. Preferred compounds include steroid 1,4-diene-3-thiones of the cholestane, androstane, oestrane and pregnane series. Compositions containing these compounds are also provided.

Abstract: 11-Halo derivatives of amitriptyline and its analogues, i.e. 5-(1'-halo-3'-aminoprop-1'-yl-idene)-5H-dibenzo[a,d]-10,11-dihydrocyclohep tenes and corresponding 11-oxa analogues as well as the acid addition salts thereof, have notable anti-depressant and tranquillising activity. They are prepared by reacting a 5-(3'-aminoprop-1'-ylidene)-5H-dibenz[a,d]-10,11-dihydrocycloheptene or an 11-oxa analogue thereof, or an acid addition salt thereof, with an electrophilic halogenating agent.

Abstract: There is described the preparation of a mononitrate ester of a diol by photolysing in the presence of molecular oxygen a nitrite ester of an alcohol having a hydrogen atom conformationally adjacent to the hydroxy group and in which the atoms joining the hydrogen atom and the hydroxyl group include at least two adjacent atoms forming part of a ring.