A process is described for preparing a compound having a 13-hydrocarbon substituted-gona-1,3,5(10),8,14-pentaen-17.alpha.-o1 nucleus from a compound having a 17.alpha.-hydroxy-13-hydrocarbon substituted-8,14- secogona-1,3,5(10),9,15-pentaen-14-one nucleus via a compound having a 13.alpha.-hydrocarbon substituted-9,14-oxido-8,14-secogona-1,3,5(10),15- tetraen-17-one nucleus and a compound having a 13.alpha.-hydrocarbon substituted-9,14-oxido-8,14-secogona-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one nucleus. A process is also described for preparing the compound having the 17.alpha.-hydroxy-13-hydrocarbon substituted 8,14-secogona-1,3,5(10),9,15- pentaen-14-one nucleus from a 13-hydrocarbon substituted-8,14-secogona- 1,3,5(10),9,15-pentaene-14,17-dione by Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction. Novel intermediates for preparing known compounds of known utility by per se known methods are disclosed. 2 Claims, No Drawings
