Abstract: A new process is disclosed for the synthesis of racemic or optically pure N-[4-cyano-3-trifluoro-methyl-phenyl]-3[4-fluorophenyl-sulfonyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionamide. The process includes the formation of several novel intermediates in the synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the synthesis of 17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-methyl-1,3-seco-2-nor-5&agr;-androstane-3-acid derivatives of formula (I) wherein the meaning of Z is carboxyl or formyl group and to the new secoindoxylidene carboxylic acid derivatives of formula (II) wherein R1 and R2 independently are C1-C4 alkyl or alkoxy group, hydrogen or halogen atom—which are intermediates for preparing the compounds of formula (I). The 17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-methyl-1,3-seco-2-nor-5&agr;-androstane-3-acid derivatives of formula (I) are intermediates in the synthesis of oxandrolon (17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-methyl-2-oxa-5&agr;-androstane-3-one), which is used as anabolic in therapy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and improved process for the preparation of 6,7-dichloro-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]-quinazolin-2[3H]-one of formula ##STR1## (anagrelide), a valuable blood platelet antiaggregative compound. According to the process of the invention the compound of formula (I) is prepared by subjecting a new 2-cyanoiminoquinazoline derivative of the general formula ##STR2## wherein R stands for cyano or a group of the formula COOR.sup.1, in the latter R.sup.1 representing lower alkyl optionally carrying a phenyl substituent, to thermal cyclization in an acidic medium.The invention also relates to new 2-cyanoiminoquinazo-lines of the general formula (III) used for the production of anagrelide and to the preparation of the said compounds.The invention provides an advantageous process for the preparation of anagrelide which is devoid of the drawbacks of the hitherto known processes and renders possible the production of the compound of the formula (I) on industrial scale, too.