Abstract: A process for preparing a 3.beta.,7.beta.-dihydroxy-.DELTA..sup.5 steroid of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is ##STR2## and R.sub.1 is hydrogen, trimethylacetyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, dimethyl-2-(3-methylbutyl)silyl or tribenzylsilyl,comprises fermenting a 3.beta.-hydroxy-.DELTA..sup.5 -steroid of the formula ##STR3## wherein Q is as defined above, andR.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkanoyl of 2-6 carbon atoms,with a culture of Botryodiplodia malorum to obtain the corresponding 3.beta.,7.beta.-dihydroxy-.DELTA..sup.5 -steroid; and, optionally, reacting the resultant product with trimethylacetic anhydride, tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride, dimethyl-2-(3-methylbutyl)silyl chloride, or tribenzylsilyl chloride.

Abstract: .DELTA..sup.16 - and .DELTA..sup.17 -21-chloro-20-keto steroids of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2,C.sub.1 C.sub.2 and C.sub.9 C.sub.11 represent a CC-single or CC-double bond,R.sub.1 is H or OH,R.sub.2 is H or CH.sub.3,R.sub.3 is H or F wherein, when R.sub.3 =F, C.sub.9 C.sub.11 is a CC-single bond, andR.sub.4 is H, CH.sub.3, or F,are valuable intermediates for preparation of highly effective, known steroids.A process for preparing these compounds involves heating the corresponding 11.beta.- and/or 17.alpha.- or 17a.alpha.-nitrooxy-21-mesyloxy-20-keto steroids with lithium chloride in a dipolar aprotic solvent at temperatures above room temperature.

Abstract: 3-Deoxy-.DELTA..sup.15 -steroids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an acyl group of a C.sub.1-15 hydrocarbon carboxylic acid, andR.sup.2 is ethynyl, chloroethynyl or propynyl are valuable progestationally effective compounds having low attendant androgenic side effects.

Abstract: 11-Methylene-.DELTA..sup.15 -steroids of Formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or acyl andR.sup.2 is ethynyl, chloroethynyl or propynyl,are distinguished by a strong progestational activity and exhibit only a very low androgenic side effect.

Abstract: A process for preparing an 11.beta.-hydroxy steroid of the formula ##STR1## wherein represents a single bond or a double bond;X is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or methyl; andV is methylene, ethylene, ethylidene or vinylidene;comprises fermenting an 11-deoxy steroid of the formula ##STR2## wherein , X and V are as defined above,R.sub.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 -alkyl; andR.sub.2 is C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;with a fungal culture of a genus Curvularia.

Abstract: Novel corticoid 17-thioacetals of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen, fluorine or methyl,R.sub.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, andR.sub.2 is hydrogen or the acyl group of a C.sub.1-16 - hydrocarbon carboxylic acid,have valuable medicinal properties, e.g., as antiinflammatories.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 6-methylene-.DELTA..sup.4 -3-keto steroid of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, alkoxy of up to 6 carbon atoms or acyloxy of up to 6 carbon atoms wherein the acyl group is that of a carboxylic acid, andR' is the CD-ring system of a steroid of the androstane or pregnane series,comprising reacting the corresponding .DELTA..sup.4 -3-keto steroid of the formula ##STR2## with a formaldehyde derivative of the formulaX(CH.sub.2 O).sub.n Ywhereinn is 1, 3 or an integer on the order of 100-1000, andX is C.sub.1-5 alkoxy and Y is C.sub.1-5 alkyl when n is 1,X and Y represent a single bond between the terminal C atom and the terminal O atom when n is 3, andX is hydroxy and Y is hydrogen when n is an integer on the order of 100-1000,in an inert solvent in the presence of a condensation agent which is a strong acida strongly acidic cation exchanger or a phosphoric acid derivative.

Abstract: Corticoid 21-sulfopropionates of the formula ##STR1## wherein St is a steroid nucleus of a corticoid having anti-inflammatory activity,and the salts thereof with physiologically acceptable bases, simultaneously form stable, sterilizable and storable solutions and also are very rapidly cleaved after i.v. administration, yielding the free corticoids as the cleavage product.

Abstract: Corticoids of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is fluorine, chlorine andR is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkanoyl, benzoyl or --OCO--A--COOHwhereinA is a carbon-to-carbon bond or a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbon chain,or whenR is --OCO--A--COOH, the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with a base,have high effectiveness, e.g., antiinflammatorily but with attendant low side effects.

Abstract: 11-Methylene steroids of Formula I ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or acyl, andX is oxygen or two hydrogen atomshave valuable pharmacological properties.

Abstract: Novel corticoids of formula I ##STR1## wherein X is .beta.-hydroxymethylene, .beta.-fluoromethylene or carbonyl; Y is fluorine, chlorine, hydroxy, or acyloxy of 1-10 carbon atoms; and R.sub.1 is acyloxy of 1-10 carbon atoms, possess strong anti-inflammatory activity when administered topically and display only minor systemic side effects.

Abstract: Corticoids of the formula ##STR1## wherein represents a single bond or a double bond;X is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or methyl;Y is hydrogen and Z is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, orY and Z together are a carbon-to-carbon bond;V is .beta.-hydroxymethylene, .beta.-chloromethylene or carbonyl;W is methylene, ethylidene or vinylidene;Q is oxygen or sulfur;R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, alkyl of 2-8 carbon atoms with an oxygen atom between two of the carbon atoms or benzyl, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms, orR.sub.1 and R.sub.2 collectively are trimethylene or tetramethylene; andR.sub.3 is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, hydroxy, or hydroxy esterified by a C.sub.1-16 hydrocarbon carboxylic acid have valuable pharmacological properties, e.g., anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is .beta.-CH.sub.2 OH or CO and R.sub.2 is F, Cl or CH.sub.3, and their physiologically acceptable 21-esters are useful for the treatment of allergic diseases of the respiratory tract and for the treatment of topical and systemic inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: Novel corticoids of formula I ##STR1## wherein X is .beta.-hydroxymethylene, .beta.-fluoromethylene or carbonyl; Y is fluorine, chlorine, hydroxy, or acyloxy of 1-10 carbon atoms; and R.sub.1 is acyloxy of 1-10 carbon atoms, possess strong anti-inflammatory activity when administered topically and display only minor systemic side effects.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of pregnane derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is methyl or ethyl and R.sub.2 is methyl, ethyl, formyl, or acetyl, comprises reacting a nitrate ester of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is as above, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a mercury salt of a lower carboxylic acid with formic acid or acetic acid in a dipolar aprotic or basic solvent or with methanol or ethanol in an aprotonic, especially water-miscible, solvent in the presence of a mineral acid.

Abstract: .DELTA..sup.15 -Steroids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom, trialkylsilyl or acyl; R.sub.2 is ethynyl, chloroethynyl or propinyl; and X is an oxygen atom, ##STR2## or NOR.sub.4 wherein R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or acyl and R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom, acyl, alkyl or tetrahydropyranyl, possess progestational and ovulation and nidation inhibiting activities.

Abstract: 11.beta.-Fluoropregnenes of the formula ##STR1## wherein 6 7 IS A SINGLE OR DOUBLE BOND,R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are H or collectively CH.sub.2 or a single bond;R.sub.3 is H or, when 6 7 is a double bond, H, F or Cl,X or O or HOR.sub.4 andR.sub.4 is H or acyl, strong progestational activity and only weak antiandrogenic activity.

Abstract: Pregnanoic acid derivatives of general formula ##STR1## wherein is a single bond or a double bond; X is hydrogen, fluorine or methyl; Y is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine; Z is .beta.-hydroxymethylene, .beta.-acyloxymethylene, .beta.-fluoromethylene, .beta.-chloromethylene, carbonyl or methylene; R.sub.1 is hydrogen, methyl in the .alpha.- or .beta.-position or methylene and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, hydroxy or acyloxy, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 collectively are alkylidendioxy and U.sub.1 is halogen, halogenated alkyl of 1-5 carbon atoms or halogenated phenyl, are topically effective anti-inflammatory agents.

Abstract: Novel estrogenic 17.alpha.-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),15-estratetraenes of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H, lower alkyl or lower acyl, R.sub.2 is lower alkyl and R.sub.3 is H, lower alkyl, lower acyl or tetrahydropyranyloxy, are produced by (a) reacting a 16.alpha.,17.alpha.-epoxy-estratriene with lithium halide or HCl in glacial acetic acid; converting the resulting halohydrin into a 16-halo-17-tetrahydropyranyl ether; and splitting off hydrogen halide from therefrom; or (b) reacting the 16.alpha.,17.alpha.-epoxy-estratriene with diphenylselenide and alkali metal borohydride; oxidizing the thus-produced 17.alpha.-hydroxy-16.beta.-phenylselenide to the corresponding phenylselenide oxide; and forming the .DELTA..sup.15 double bond by heating with removal of phenyl--Se--OH.

Abstract: 7-Hydroxyestradiols of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, acyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, an oxygenated saturated heterocyclic group or hydrocarbylsulfonyl; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each are hydrogen, acyl, oxygenated saturated heterocyclic group or R.sub.2 is hydrocarbylsulfonyl and R.sub.4 is alkyl, alkenyl, chlorinated alkenyl, alkynyl or chlorinated alkynyl, are useful for treating estrogen deficiency symptoms.