Abstract: This invention provides novel compounds comprising the following anti-inflammatory pharmacore: wherein X, R1 and R2 are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic, chemospecific and stereospecific method of oxidizing a wide variety of substrates without unwanted side reactions. Essentially, the method of the instant invention, under relatively mild reaction conditions, catalytically, stereospecifically and chemospecifically inserts oxygen into a hydrocarbon C—H bond. Oxidation (oxygen insertion) at a tertiary C—H bond to form an alcohol (and in some cases a hemiacetal) at the tertiary carbon is favored. The stereochemistry of an oxidized tertiary carbon is preserved. Ketones are formed by oxidizing a secondary C—H bond and ring-cleaved diones are formed by oxidizing cis tertiary CH bonds.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain steroidal glycosides useful as hypocholesterolemic agents and antiatherosclerosis agents and certain protected intermediates useful in the preparation of said steroidal glycosides.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of peracyl-1-O-steroidal-.beta.-cellobiosides that provides excellent .beta.-anomeric selectivity without the use of a metal salt promoter. The process comprises reacting heptaacyl-.beta.-D-cellobiosyl-1-fluoride and a trisubstituted silyl-3-O-steroid, wherein the steroid is tigogenin, hecogenin, 11-ketotigogenin or diosgenin in the absence of a metal salt under suitable conditions.

Abstract: Heterocyclic spiro compounds represented by the following general formula and salts thereof: ##STR1## The above compounds act upon muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, thereby activating the acetylcholine nervous functions in the central nervous system.