Abstract: A process for the production of ambergris-type labdane spiroketals of general formulae I and II ##STR1## where R represents oxygen or sulphur, useful in the perfumery industry, the said process being characterized by the intramolecular cyclisation of the epoxyketone or its thio analog of general formula III ##STR2## where R.sub.1 represents COCH.sub.3 and R.sub.2 oxygen or sulphur.

Abstract: Process for the formation of carbon-containing free radicals R., which optionally include functional groups, wherein thermal and/or photochemical energy is supplied to a thiocarbonyl-containing ester corresponding to the general formula (I): ##STR1## in which: R denotes a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic, acyclic or alternatively mono- or poly-cyclic or mono- or poly-heterocyclic, carbon-containing radical which in addition can optionally include functional groups;R' and R" denote, independently of each other, an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl radical, or alternatively form together a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle which can also contain an additional heteroatom chosen from nitrogen and sulfur and which can optionally be substituted or fused to at least one other aliphatic or aromatic ring;R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 denote, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical, andn is an integer equal to 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: Novel 20-isocyano-.DELTA..sup.17(20) -steroids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of (1) hydrogen, (2) alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms optionally substituted with a member of the group consisting of halogen, an oxygen function and a nitrogen function and (3) alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Alk.sub.1, is alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and the A,B,C, and D rings may contain one or more double bonds and may be optionally substituted with at least one member of the group consisting of --OH, .dbd.0, halogens, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms and a process for their preparation and their use to prepare 17.alpha.-ol-20-keto steroids.

Abstract: A novel nitromethylation composition comprising nitromethane and a catalytic amount of a bifunctional basic catalyst, optionally in an organic solvent, a method of nitromethylating ketonic compounds with said compositions and novel steroids of the formulae ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms optionally substituted with an oxygen or nitrogen group or halogen 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 optionally contain at least one double bond and optionally substituted with at least one member of the group consisting of --OH, .dbd.0, halogen, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms and their use to form the corresponding 21-acetoxy-20-ketocorticosteroids compounds in a simple manner.

Abstract: Derivatives of selenium as dehydrogenation agents employed in the presence of an oxidation agent consisting of oxidized derivatives of possibly substiuted iodoaromatic compounds, particularly where the derivatives of selenium are employed in catalytic amounts; as well as a process of dehydrogenation 3-oxygenated steroids into the corresponding 3-oxygenated .DELTA..sup.1,4 steroids.

Abstract: Novel 17-oxazoline-steroids 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 with a member of the group consisting of halogen, oxygen function and nitrogen function and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbon of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and the A,B,C and D rings optionally contain at least one double bond and are optionally substituted with at least one member of the group consisting of --OH, .dbd.O, halogen, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms which are useful intermediates for known steroids having in the 17-position the ##STR2## group.