Abstract: Corticoids of Formula I ##STR1## wherein is a single bond or a double bond,X is hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine,Y represents two hydrogen atoms or an oxygen atom, andZ is hydrogen or acyloxy of 2-6 carbon atoms, are pharmacologically active compounds, e.g., as anti-inflammatories.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.