A method for the production of 6alpha, 9alpha - difluoro - 3beta, 11beta - dihydroxy - 16alpha, 17alpha - isopropyl identical dioxy - 4 - pregnene - 20 - on and its physiologically permissible esters

摘要

The invention comprises compounds of formula FORM:1066835/C2/1 wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a physiologically acceptable acyl group, and their preparation by treatment of 17a -bromo-6a -fluoro-progesterone with lithium chloride in dimethyl formamide to produce 6a - fluoro - 4,16 - pregnadiene - 3,20 - dione, treating this with permanganate in a buffered solution to form 16a ,17a -dihydroxy-6a -fluoro-4-pregnene-3,20-dione, treating this with spores of Aspergillus ochraceus to form 6a -fluoro-11a ,16a ,17a - trihydroxy-4 - pregnene-3,20 - dione, treating this with acetone in the presence of a mineral acid to form its 16a ,17a -acetonide, treating this with methane-sulphonyl chloride and an acid acceptor to form its 11a -mesylate, treating this with an acid acceptor to form 6a -fluoro-16a ,17a -isopropylidenedioxy - 4,9(11) - pregnadiene - 3,30 - dione, treating this with a mineral acid and an N-bromo - amide to form the 9a - bromo - 11b - hydroxy-derivative, treating this with an acid acceptor to form the 9b ,11b -epoxide, treating this with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride at low temperature or with aqueous hydrogen fluoride at room temperature to form 6a ,9a -difluoro-11b -hydroxy - 16a ,17a - isopropylidenedioxy - 4 - pregnene-3,20-dione, and reducing the 3-keto-group with a solution of a complex metal hydride, followed, if desired, by 3-acylation. The compounds of the invention have anti-inflammatory activity and may be used in pharmaceutical compositions in combination with a carrier, for example in frms suitable for topical administration.