6-fluoro-1,2ª‡-mehtylene-í¸-17ª‡-hydroxyprogesterone esters and a process for theirmanufacture

摘要

The invention comprises a 6-fluoro-1,2a -methylene - D 6 - 17a - hydroxy - progesterone carboxylic acid ester and a process for the manufacture thereof wherein a 1,2a -methylene-6a ,7a - oxido - 17a - hydroxyprogesterone ester is treated with hydrofluoric acid and the resuling 6b -fluoro-7a -hydroxyl compound is treated with hydrochloric acid, whereby with simultaneous cyclopropane ring splitting and elimination of water, the corresponding 1-chloromethyl-6 - fluoro - D 6 - 17a - hydroxy - progesterone carboxylic acid ester is produced which is converted into the desired end product by reconversion of the 1a -chloromethyl group in the 1,2a -cyclopropane ring with a base, e.g. collidine. The hydrofluoric acid treatment may be effected in dimethylformamide and the hydrochloric acid treatment in glacial acetic acid. Specification 973,908 is referred to.