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.

Abstract: Pregnane-21-oic acid derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein THE LINKAGE REPRESENTS A SINGLE BOND OR A DOUBLE BOND;X is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine;Y is methylene, hydroxymethylene, alkanoyloxymethylene, carbonyl, fluoromethylene or chloromethylene;R.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, phenyl or naphthyl substituted with 0-3 lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or chlorine; andR.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, the cation of a physiologically compatible base or the residue of a physiologically acceptable alcohol of 1-18 carbon atoms.These compounds exhibit useful antiinflammatory activity when topically applied to inflamed skin.

Abstract: Corticoids of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is .beta.-hydroxymethylene or carbonyl, and 21-esters thereof with physiologically acceptable acids possess topical anti-inflammatory activity with relatively little systemic activity.

Abstract: 11.beta.-Fluoroandrostenes of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen atoms, methylene or another C--C bond; R.sub.3 is H or Cl, R.sub.4 is H, F or Cl; and X is carbonyl, .beta.-hydroxymethylene, or an ester or ether thereof or .alpha.-alkyl-.beta.-hydroxymethylene or an ester thereof, possess androgenic activity and can be prepared by the dehalogenation of a corresponding 9.alpha.-halo-11.beta.-F steroid.

Abstract: 3,17,18-Trihydroxy-1,3,5(10)-estratrienes of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein R is H or substituted or unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, and esters and ethers thereof, possess strong vaginotropic and only weak utertropic activity and are useful in the treatment of estrogenic deficiency conditions where uteral effects are not desired.

Abstract: 20-Cyano-17.alpha.-H steroids having as the 17-position substituent the group ##EQU1## wherein R is H, alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms or benzyl, having a 13-methyl or 13-ethyl group and which are unsubstituted or substituted with an .alpha.-methyl group in the 16-position are converted to the corresponding 20-keto steroids by reaction in an aprotic solvent with a deprotonating agent containing an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, copper(I) or thallium(I), and optionally additionally with a copper(I) salt or a thallium(I) salt or a silver(I) salt, and thereafter conducting an oxidative splitting reaction with oxygen. The thus-produced 17.beta.-oxalyl steroids possess pharmacological activity, e.g., anti-inflammatory activity, or are useful as intermediates for the production of pharmacologically active steroids.

Abstract: Steroids of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or methyl; Y is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; Z is carbonyl, .beta.-acyloxymethylene or, when Y is a hydrogen atom, also methylene; R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or methyl; R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or optionally substituted hydrocarbon; and --A--B-- is --CH=CH--, --CCl=CH-- or when at least one of X, Y and R.sub.1 is other than a hydrogen atom, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, which can be produced by oxidizing a corresponding 20-hydroxy steroid or a corresponding 21-aldehyde, possess topical anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: 1,3-Dihydroxy-8.alpha.-estratrienes of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein R is lower-alkyl and --A--B is ##SPC2##Wherein R' is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group and R" is lower-alkyl, aralkyl or phenyl, and the esters and ethers thereof, possess strong vaginotropic but only weak utertropic activity and are useful in the treatment of estrogenic deficiency conditions where uteral effects are not desired.

Abstract: 8.alpha.-Estratrienes of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein R is lower alkyl and X is an oxygen atom, a .beta.-hydroxy or .beta.-hydroxy-.alpha.-substituted or unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, and the esters and ethers thereof, possess strong vaginotropic but only weak utertropic activity and are useful in the treatment of estrogenic deficiency conditions where uteral effects are not desired.

Abstract: Pregnane-21-oic acids of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or methyl; Y is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a chlorine atom; Z is methylene, carbonyl, .beta.-hydroxymethylene, .beta.-acyloxymethylene or when Y is a chlorine atom, .beta.-fluoromethylene or .beta.-chloromethylene; V is methylene, ethylidene or vinylidene; R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or acyl, and physiologically acceptable salts thereof with bases and physiologically acceptable 21-esters thereof, possess topical anti-inflammatory activity with substantially no systemic activity.