Abstract: The present invention provides 4-nitro-.DELTA..sup.4 -3-ketosteroids, their use as steroid C.sub.17-20 lyase and 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors and to a novel process for preparing a compound of the formula: ##STR1## comprising sequentially: a) reacting a starting compound of the formula ##STR2## with an effective amount of a strong base at an elevated or suitable temperature for a time sufficient to create the corresponding thermodynamic dienolate, followed by addition of a neutral nitrating agent to produce the 4-nitrosteroid; and then;b) reacting the 4-nitrosteroid with a suitable reducing agent.

Abstract: The invention discloses 3-ketosteroids of the following formula used to inhibit steroid C.sub.17-20 lyase: ##STR1## wherein R is OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanoyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanoyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol, COCH.sub.2 OH, CO.sub.2 H, CONR.sub.7 R.sub.8, cyclopropyloxy, cyclopropylamino, acetylthioalkane, 2,2-dimethyldioxolan4-yl, 1,2-dihydroxyethyl and C.sub.1-4 alkylthiol;R.sub.1 is hydrogen, hydroxy or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;R and R.sub.1 together may indicate .dbd.O, that is an oxygen double bonded to the 17 carbon;R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are each independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently hydrogen or OH;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 together may indicate .dbd.O, that is an oxygen double bonded to the 11 carbon;R.sub.7 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl;R.sub.8 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl; andwith the proviso that, when R is OH, then R.sub.1 is hydrogen; andwith the proviso that, when R.sub.5 is OH, then R.sub.6 is hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention discloses 3-ketosteroids of the following formula used to inhibit steroid 5.alpha.-reductase: ##STR1## wherein R is OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanoyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkanoyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol, COCH.sub.2 OH, CO.sub.2 H, CONR.sub.7 R.sub.8, cyclopropoxy, acetylthioalkane, cyclopylamino, 2-2-dimethyldioxolan-4-yl, 1,2-dihydroxyethyl and C.sub.1-4 alkanethiol;R.sub.1 is hydrogen, hydroxy or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together may indicate .dbd.O, that is an oxygen double bonded to the 17 carbon;R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently hydrogen or OH;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 together may indicate .dbd.O, that is an oxygen double bonded to the 11 carbon;R.sub.7 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-8 alkyl;R.sub.8 is C.sub.1-8 alkyl; andwith the proviso that, when R is OH, then R.sub.1 is hydrogen; and with the proviso that, when R.sub.5 is OH, then R.sub.6 is hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides 4-nitro-.DELTA..sup.4 -3-ketosteroids, their use as steroid C.sub.17-20 lyase and 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors and to a novel process for preparing a compound of the formula: ##STR1## comprising sequentially: a) reacting a starting compound of the formula ##STR2## with an effective amount of a strong base at an elevated or suitable temperature for a time sufficient to create the corresponding thermodynamic dienolate, followed by addition of a neutral nitrating agent to produce the 4-nitro-steroid; and then;b) reacting the 4-nitrosteroid with a suitable reducing agent.