The present invention provides 4-nitro-.DELTA..sup.4 -3-ketosteroids, their use as steroid C.sub.17-20 lyase and 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors and to a novel process for preparing a compound of the formula: ##STR1## comprising sequentially: a) reacting a starting compound of the formula ##STR2## with an effective amount of a strong base at an elevated or suitable temperature for a time sufficient to create the corresponding thermodynamic dienolate, followed by addition of a neutral nitrating agent to produce the 4-nitro-steroid; and then; b) reacting the 4-nitrosteroid with a suitable reducing agent.
