Manufacture of 4-pregnene-17ª‡,21-diol-20-ones

摘要

4 - Pregnene - 17a ,21 - diol - 3,20 - diones of the general formula: FORM:0796769/IV (b)/1 wherein Y represents O or H2 and Z represents O, H(OH) or H2, are prepared by subjecting 5 - pregnene - 3,17a ,21 - triol - 20 - ones and lower aliphatic esters thereof of the general formula: FORM:0796769/IV (b)/2 wherein Y and Z have the above significance and the R's represent hydrogen or the same or different acyl groups containing less than 6 carbon atoms to the action of oxidizing substances produced by growing a culture of Flavobacterium dehydrogenous var. hydrolyticum. Thus D 4 - pregnene - 17a ,21 - diol - 3,20 - dione may be prepared from a mono-, di- or tri-ester of a 5-pregnene reactant of the above general formula in which Y and Z each represent H2 or from the free triol itself. Similarly, 4-pregnene - 17a ,21 - diol - 3,11,20 - trione and 4 - pregnene - 17a ,21 - diol - 3,12,20 - trione may be prepared from 5-pregnene-3,17a ,21-triol - 11,20 - dione and 5 - pregnene - 3,17a ,21-triol-12,20-dione respectively or the mono-, di- or tri-esters thereof. In the examples D 4-pregnene - 11a ,21 - diol - 3,20 - dione is prepared. Specification 796,768 is referred to.