Total synthesis of known progestationally active steroidal materials. The steroids can be synthesized depending on the particular starting reactants selected by employing as intermediates bicyclic compounds of the formula ##SPC1## Wherein m is an integer having a value of 1 or 2; R.sub.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; Z is lower alkylenedioxy, CH(OR.sub.2) and carbonyl; R.sub.8 when taken alone is hydrogen; R.sub.9 when taken alone is lower alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxy-carbonyl, lower cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, carbonyl-halide, hydrogen, carboxy, formyl and methylene-X, where X is a leaving group and when taken together are methylene; with the proviso that when Z is carbonyl R.sub.8 when taken alone is hydrogen; R.sub.8 when taken alone is carbonyl halide, hydrogen, carboxy, formyl and methylene-X where X is a leaving group and when taken together are methylene and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, phenyl-lower alkyl, tetrahydropyranyl, lower alkanoyl, benzoyl, nitrobenzoyl, carboxy-lower alkanoyl, carboxybenzoyl, trifluoroacetyl and camphorsulfonyl.
The invention is directed to a process and intermediates for the preparation of 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol as well as substantially pure and crystalline 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxyergocolciferol. The end-product 1.alpha.,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol is useful in the treatment of disease states which are characterized by insufficient amounts of 1.alpha., 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.
