Abstract: There is disclosed an azetidinone compound of the formula [I]: ##STR1## wherein Ring B is a benzene ring which may have substituent(s), R.sup.1 is a hydroxy-substituted lower alkyl group which may have substituent(s), X is oxygen atom and the like, Y is oxygen atom and the like, and Z is a methylene group which may have substituent(s), which is useful as a synthetic intermediate of the 1.beta.-methylcarbapenem-type antibacterial agent.

Abstract: There is disclosed an azetidinone compound of the formula [I]: ##STR1## wherein Ring B is a benzene ring which may have substituent(s), R.sup.1 is a hydroxy-substituted lower alkyl group which may have substituent(s), X is oxygen atom and the like, Y is oxygen atom and the like, and Z is a methylene group which may have substituent(s), which is useful as a synthetic intermediate of the 1.beta.-methylcarbapenem-type antibacterial agent.

Abstract: There is provided the novel compound 19-hydroxyaldosterone. There is provided a process for its preparation. There are further provided pharmaceutical compositions comprising this compound as active ingredient. These are useful, amongst others, as mineralocorticoid drugs and as drug against Addison's disease.

Abstract: A substituted aldosterone of the formula: ##STR1## wherein either one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is hydrogen and the other is --S(CH.sub.2).sub.m COR.sup.3 or --OCO(CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sup.3, provided that when R.sup.1 is hydrogen, R.sup.2 is --S(CH.sub.2).sub.m COR.sup.3 or --OCO(CH.sub.2).sub.n COR.sup.3 and when R.sup.2 is hydrogen, R.sup.1 is --S(CH.sub.2).sub.m COR.sup.3 ; m being an integer from 1 to 3, n being an integer from 1 to 5 and R.sup.3 being hydroxyl, lower alkoxy or a residue of tyramine, tyrosine lower alkyl ester, histamine, histidine, 7-aminoheptanoyltyrosine lower alkyl ester or .beta.-D-galactosidase as optionally iodinated, or its (18-20)-acetal 20,21-ketonide, which is useful as the reagent in determination of aldosterones by radioimmunoassay or enzyme immunoassay.