Delta-3,5-and delta-1,3,5(10)-4-methyl steroids - by redn of delta-4-3oxo and delta-1,4,3-10-methyl steroids with aluminium dialko

摘要

Cpds of formula (I): (where R1 is H2 or HOH; R2 is O or COCH2R3 where R3 and R4 are H, OH or acyloxy; and AB is: where R5 is H or Me) are prepd by reducing a cpd of formula (II): (where the dotted line is a single or double bond; R6 is Me or also H when there is a single bond between posns 1 and 2) with an aluminium dialkoxy hydride, dehydrating the resulting 3-hydroxy cpd in known manner, and opt. esterifying free OH gps. or hydrolysing ester gps. Cpds (I) are valuable medicaments or inters thereof.