Abstract: Novel compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein either K' is oxygen or a K, a protective group of the oxo of the formula ##STR2## wherein n is 2 or 3, the 17-position dotted line is a bond, R.sub.a and R.sub.b are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or K' is an oxygen, the 17-position dotted line is an epoxy and R.sub.a and R.sub.b have the meaning indicated above which are useful intermediates for the preparation of hydrocortisone.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula ##STR1## comprising reacting a compound of the formula ##STR2## with chlorosulfonic in an organic solvent wherein the reaction is effected at -20.degree. C. to -10.degree. C. and the temperature is then allowed to rise to 0.degree. C. to 5.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms comprising reacting a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.4 is a remainder of an easily cleavable ether, K is a protected ketone function in the form of ketal, thioketal or mixed ketal and R.sub.1 has the above definition with a magnesium organic compound reagent of the formulaHalMg--CH.sub.2 --R.sub.2 Awherein Hal is a halogen and R.sub.2 is defined as above to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and K are defined as above, reacting the latter with an acylation agent to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sub.5 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and K are defined as above, reacting the latter with an appropriate alkylation agent to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms optionally substituted by halogen or a nitrogen or oxygen function and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the A, B, C and D rings are optionally substituted by at least one member of the group consisting of optionally protected --OH or .dbd.0, halogen, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms comprising reacting a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and the A, B, C and D rings are defined as above with an oxidizing agent in the presence of water and an at least partially water-miscible solvent to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: A process for the production of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an acyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The compound is formed through an intermediate compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, phenyl, tolyl, and xylyl and wherein K is a protective group selected from the group consisting of ##STR3## in which n is 2 or 3 and the wavy line means that the group SO.sub.2 --R.sub.1 may have either isomeric form or are mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of hydrocortisone and novel intermediates which avoids an 11-hydroxylation step and results in improved yields.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein Hal is chlorine or bromine, R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aralkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms and a silylated group, K is a protective group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n is 2 or 3 and the wavy lines mean the groups may have either isomer form or are mixtures thereof which are intermediates for .DELTA..sup.4,9(11),16 -pregnatriene-3-ones.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, R.sub.2 is methyl or ethyl, the A,B,C and D rings optionally containing at least one double bond and optionally substituted with at least one member of the group consisting of optionally protected --OH, .dbd.O, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R is selected from the group consisting of halogen, --OH, alkylthio and alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aralkoxy, arylthio and aralkylthio of 7 to 15 carbon atoms and ##STR2## R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are individually hydrogen, or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aralkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms or taken together with the nitrogen form a heterocycle optionally containing another nitrogen or oxygen atom, excepting the product in which R is methoxy, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent methyl, A ring carries a 3.beta.-acetoxy function and B ring contains a double bond in 5(6) useful as intermediates for the preparation of 20-keto-pregnanes.

Abstract: A novel process for the preparation of 20-keto-pregnanes.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, R.sub.2 is methyl or ethyl, and A,B,C and D rings optionally containing at least one double bond and optionally substituted with at least one member of the group consisting of optionally protected --OH, .dbd.O, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R is selected from the group consisting of halogen, --OH, alkylthio and alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aralkoxy, arylthio and aralkylthio of 7 to 15 carbon atoms and ##STR2## R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are individually hydrogen, or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aralkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms or taken together with the nitrogen form a heterocycle optionally containing another nitrogen or oxygen atom, excepting the product in which R is methoxy, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent methyl, A ring carries a 3.beta.-acetoxy function and B ring contains a double bond in 5(6) useful as intermediates for the preparation of 20-keto-pregnanes.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, R.sub.2 is methyl or ethyl, the A,B,C and D rings optionally have one or more double bonds and are optionally substituted with one or more members of the group consisting of halogen protected hydroxy, 1/8O, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R is selected from the group consisting of halogen, --OH, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aralkoxy of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, alkylthio of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, arylthio of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, aralkylthio of 7 to 15 carbon atoms and ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and aralkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together with the nitrogen atom form another heterocycle optionally containing a nitrogen atom or oxygen atom and their preparation and their use to form 20-keto-pregnanes.

Abstract: A novel process for the preparation of prednisone derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R.sub.

Abstract: Novel .beta.-lactones of 2-hydroxy-cyclopentane-carboxylic acids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3 and --X--Ar, X is selected from the group consisting of --O-- and --CH.sub.2 --, Ar is an optionally substituted member selected from the group consisting of thienyl, thiazolyl, phenyl and thiadiazolyl, the optional substituents being at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen and --CF.sub.3 and the wavy lines indicate that the groups may be in the .alpha.,.beta. or .beta.,.alpha.-positions or mixtures thereof having hypotensive activity and their preparation.

Abstract: Novel lactones of the formula ##STR1## wherein the dotted line indicates the optional presence of a second bond, A is a single bond or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.6 is --OR.sub.A ', R.sub.A ' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, tetrahydropyranyl, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and ##STR2## R.sub.A " is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms optionally substituted with carboxyl and phenyl optionally substituted with a member of the group consisting of carboxyl, free hydroxyl, hydroxyl protected with an acyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms and hydroxyl protected with an easily hydrolyzable group and R and R.sub.6 together form a keto group, R.sub.7 is --CH.sub.2).sub.m.sbsb.A --CH.sub.3, m.sub.A is 3,4,5 or 6 and R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 taken together form .dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n.sbsb.A --CH.sub.3, n.sub.

Abstract: Novel .beta.-lactones of 2-hydroxy-cyclopentane-carboxylic acids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3 and --X--Ar, X is selected from the group consisting of --O-- and --CH.sub.2 --, Ar is an optionally substituted member selected from the group consisting of thienyl, thiazolyl, phenyl and thiadiazolyl, the optional substituents being at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen and --CF.sub.3 and thw wavy lines indicate that the groups may be in the .alpha., .beta. or .beta., .alpha.-positions or mixtures thereof having hypotensive activity and their preparation.

Abstract: Novel lactones of the formula ##STR1## wherein the dotted line indicates the optional presence of a second bond, A is a single bond or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.6 is --OR'.sub.A, R'.sub.A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, tetrahydropyranyl, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and ##STR2## R".sub.A is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms optionally substituted with carboxyl and phenyl optionally substituted with a member of the group consisting of carboxyl, free hydroxyl, hydroxyl protected with an acyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms and hydroxyl protected with an easily hydrolyzable group and R and R.sub.6 together form a keto group, R.sub.7 is --(CH.sub.2)m.sub.A --CH.sub.3, m.sub.A is 3,4,5 or 6 and R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 taken together form .dbd. CH--(CH.sub.2)n.sub. A --CH.sub.3 n.sub.

Abstract: Novel cyclopentenecarboxylates of the formula ##STR1## wherein AlK is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R is selected from the group consisting of --CHO and --CH.sub.

Abstract: Novel cyclopentanoic acid derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## and --CH.sub.2 OH, R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a non toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable cation and R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-tetrahydropyranyl, branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and ##STR3## and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms and phenyl with the alkyl and phenyl being optionally substituted with --COOA wherein A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium ion, ion of an organic amine, alkyl and haloalkyl of 1 to 7 alkyl carbon atoms with the proviso that R.sub.1 is not hydrogen or 2-tetrahydropyranyl when R is a carboxylic group, and the OH and R groups on the ring and OR.sub.

Abstract: Novel prostanoic acid derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is a whole number from 3, 4 or 5, n is a whole number from 2, 3 or 4, R' is either a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a saturated or mono unsaturated cyclohydrocarbon having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and A is either alkoxy having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or oxygen of a ketonic group, the dotted lines in the pentagonal ring are possible positions of a single double bond where, when A is a ketonic oxygen, the double bond is on the exterior of the ring and when A is alkoxy, the double bond is in one of the two interior positions of the ring, as well as the pharmaceutically compatible salts of mineral or organic bases when R is hydrogen in their .alpha.,.beta. or .beta.,.alpha. forms and mixtures thereof; as well as the process for their preparation, and the therapeutic compositions containing them.

Abstract: A novel process for the preparation of substituted trans-epoxy cis-alkenes of the formula ##EQU1## wherein Alk is straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and m is 3,4 or 5 which are intermediates for prostaglandin compounds.