process for the preparation of esters of 1,2alpha - methylene - amp; amp; 17 - hydroxyprogesterone) in position 6, and products obtained

摘要

The invention comprises 6-halogen (particularly chloro)-1a , 2a -methylene-D 6-17a -hydroxy-progesterone 17-carboxylic esters, and the preparation thereof by epoxidizing 1a , 2a -methylene-D 6-17a -hydroxy-progesterone carboxylic esters, for example, by means of a percarboxylic acid, to form 1a , 2a -methylene-6a , 7a -oxido-D 4-pregnen-17a -ol-3,20-dione 17-carboxylic esters, treating this compound with a hydrohalic acid to form 6-halo-1a -halomethyl-D 4,6-pregnadien-17a -ol-3, 20-dione 17-carboxylic esters, and dehydrohalogenating this compound with an organic base such as collidine. Specification 926,372 is referred to.