Abstract: Described is a new process for producing 7.beta.-substituted-4-aza-5.alpha.-androstan-3-ones and related compounds which are 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors, consisting of reducing the corresponding androsteneone with lithium and liquid ammonia, contacting the product with an isomerizing agent, oxidizing the product to a seco acid and reacting that seco acid with an amine to cyclize to form 4-aza-5.alpha.-androstan-3-ones.

Abstract: Topically administrable C-21 thioether glucocorticoid steroid derivatives are disclosed as effective anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of ophthalmic inflammatory disorders. These C-21 thioether derivatives do not cause a significant increase in intraocular pressure as a side effect.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention is directed to biological compounds derivatized so as to contain at least one perfluoro-t-butyl moiety for use in fluorine-19 NMR and/or MRI studies. The perfluoro-t-butyl (PFTB) moiety, ##STR1## is an excellent reporter group for fluorine-19 NMR/MRI. It is a source of nine magnetically equivalent fluorine nuclei which generate a single intense resonance for easy detection in spectroscopy or imaging. This signal is a sharp singlet, not split by neighboring nuclei or spread over a wide frequency range and eliminates any chance of ghost images which might arise from multiple resonances. These spectral properties ensure a maximum signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for readily detecting this moiety. The foregoing allows either reduction in the concentration of the derivatized compound, ability to use MRI instruments with lower field strengths, a reduction in imaging times, or a combination of the foregoing as a result of this moiety producing a single, sharp, intense resonance.

Abstract: Novel glycosides, especially steroidal glycosides, and a novel method of their production, are provided. For the novel method of producing novel glycosides, hydroxysteryl compounds are glycosylated with tri-O-acyl glucal using molecular iodine as a reaction catalyst. In this method an alcohol or phenol, especially a hydroxy-steroid such as a water-insoluble cholesterol, is glycosylated, such that the glycosylation is performed in a single step. The resulting steryl pyranoside is by oxidation converted to the corresponding 7-ketosteryl di-O-acyl-pyranoside. The latter pyranoside is selectively reduced to provide the corresponding 7-.beta.-hydroxysteryl 2,3-dideoxy-.alpha.-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside. The steroidal glycosides obtained in this way possess valuable pharmacological properties. In particular, the glycosides in vivo exhibit a selective cell-destructive activity on malignant cells which activity is substantially free of side effects on normal cells.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel nucleophilic polysubstituted aryl acridinium esters and to novel conjugates thereof. The novel nucleophilic polysubstituted aryl acridinium esters and novel conjugates thereof are useful in biological assays, including novel assays for the determination of Vitamin B.sub.12, folate, cortisol, estradiol, and thromboxane B.sub.2.

Abstract: Described is a new process for producing 7.beta.-substituted-4-aza-5.alpha.-androstan-3-ones and related compounds which are 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention pertains to rhenium (VII) compounds which are catalysts for metathesis of ordinary olefins (hydrocarbons) and functionalized olefins in a homogeneous phase and to methods of synthesizing these compounds. The rhenium compounds comprise a rhenium (VII) atom centrally linked to an alkylidene ligand, an alkylidyne ligand, and two other ligands of which at least one ligand is sufficiently electron withdrawing to render the rhenium atom significantly active for metathesis.

Abstract: Cyclodextrins and especially ionic cyclodextrin derivatives facilitate the iontophoretic delivery of pharmaceutically active agents.

Abstract: A process for the resolution of hemiacetal compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is a hydrocarbon chain containing 1 to 16 groups, the said chain optionally containing at least one heteroatom, at least one unsaturation, the assembly of the group constituting the chain may be a mono- or polycyclic system including a spiro or endosystem and the assembly of chain A and the carbon atoms attached thereto can contain at least one chiral atom or the hemiacetal moiety thereto which can present a chirality due to the dissymetric spatial configuration of the molecule and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms optionally substituted, --CY.sub.3 ' and the .beta.,.gamma.