Novel 11.beta.-substituted-.DELTA..sup.9 -ene-5.alpha.-ols of the formula ##STR1## wherein K is a blocked ketone in the form of a ketal, thio-ketal or methyloxime, X is a pentagonal or hexagonal ring optionally substituted, R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of branched and straight chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, unsaturated alkyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms optionally substituted, optionally substituted aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms, optionally substituted aralkyl of 7 to 13 carbon atoms and heterocycle with at least one hetero oxygen or sulfur atom and R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms which are useful intermediates and a process for their preparation.
Novel 19-nor steroids and 19-nor-D-homo-steroids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an organic radical of 1 to 18 carbon atoms containing at least one atom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorous and silicon with the atom immediately adjacent to the 11-carbon atom being carbon, R.sub.2 is a hydrocarbon of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of a pentagonal ring and a hexagonal ring optionally substituted and optionally containing a double bond, B and C together form a double bond or an epoxy group, the C.dbd.A group at position 3 is selected from the group consisting of C.dbd.O, ketal, ##STR2## --C.dbd.NOH, --C.dbd.NOAlK.sub.3 and .dbd.CH.sub.2, AlK.sub.1, AlK.sub.2 and AlK.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and aralkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms and their non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts having anti-glucocorticoid activity and a process for their preparation.
Methods for the preparation of the 19-norprogesterone of formula I ##STR1## and its intermediates, in crystalline and amorphous forms are disclosed. The process is performed by (1) protecting the hydroxyl group of a compound of formula II ##STR2## (2) reacting the protected compound with an alkali or alkaline earth metal anion radical, (3) hydrolyzing the resulting compound, (4) ketalizing the carbonyl groups, (5) epoxidizing the compound, (6) opening the epoxide ring and introducing an N,N,dimethylamino-phenyl functional group into the axial position of C.sub.11, (7) deketalizing and dehydrating the resulting compound, and (8) acetylating to provide 17.alpha.-acetoxy-11.beta.-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19-norpregna-4,9-di ene-3,20-dione (I).
