NOVEL 7$g(b)-HYDROXY-4-PREGNENE-3,20-DIONE DERIVATIVES AND PROCESS FOR THEIR PREPARATION

Abstract: 7-beta-hydroxypregn -4-ene-3,20-diones (I) are new; where X is =O or beta-OH; Y is H or OH. Prepn. comprises culture of an Acremonium species (esp. A.strictum, FERM P-9143) in the presence of pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione. Pref. 7beta,15beta,17alpha-trihydroxy pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione; 7beta-hydroxypregn-4-ene -3,15,20-trione.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to novel pregnene derivatives used as intermediates for the synthesis of progesterone derivatives having ovulation-inhibiting activity. A group of these compounds is expected to be used in the field of medicine. Cell differentiation activity is also found on a part of these compounds and hence utilization as drugs is also expected in this area. BACRGROUND ART A variety of pregnene derivatives has already been found to date. However, pregnene derivatives of this invention are novel compounds and biological activities of these compounds have naturally been unknown. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present inventors have researched the action of microorganisms belonging to Acremonium sp. , e.g. a strain of mold fungi, in a substrate of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione. As a result, it has been found that two types of novel pregnene derivatives specified in this invention are produced. According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a novel 7β-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione derivative represented by the formula (I): wherein X is =0 or αHβOH, and Y is αOH. The invention also provides a method of preparing such compounds characterized in that a microorganism belonging to Acremonium sp. is brought into contact with 4-pregnene-3,20-dione. The present inventors have further subjected one of the deriviatives produced above to a reaction with acid anydrides and found that esters of these deriviatives can be obtained. The pregnene derivatives of this invention can be used as intermediates for the manufacture of progesterone derivatives. These pregnene deriviatives including the above mentioned esters exhibit also cell differentiation activity. One particular derivative of this invention has the chemical name: 7β,15β,17α-Trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (the 1st compound of this invention described in claim 2). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figures 1-4 relate to the 1st compound of this invention. Figure 1 illustrates an EI mass spectrum. Figure 2 shows an infrared absorption spectrum. Figure 3 shows a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. Figure 4 illustrates a ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. Figures 5-7 relate to another compound which is produced, namely 7β-hydroxy-4-pregnene -3,15,20-trione. Figure 5 illustrates an EI mass spectrum Figure 6 illustrates a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. Figure 7 shows a ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION This invention is to provide a novel pregnene derivative which is used as an intermediate for the manufacture of progesterone derivatives having progestin activities such as ovulation-inhibiting activity and also has itself cell differentiation activity. This invention will hereinafter be illustrated in detail by way of examples. Culture of microorganisms and conversion of substrate by the microorganisms Acremonium strictum NN106 preserved in Hungarian National Institute of Hygiene (FERM P-9143), which is a strain of mold fungi was cultured with shaking in a medium containing carbon sources such as malt extract, peptone, nitrogen sources such as soybean meal, and inorganic salts. In carrying out the culture, the strain was inoculated on 100 ml of a culture medium having, for example, a below described composition in a Erlenmeyer flask of 500 ml volume. The culture was incubated and shaken simultaneously in a incubator with a rotary shaker at a rate of 200 rpm for 48 hours at 24°C. The above strain was deposited as FERM P-9143 in Fermentation Research Institute of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology on January 21, 1987. 4-Pregnene-3,20-dione as a substrate was dissolved in dimethylformide in advance so as to obtain a substrate concentration of 0.1 g/ml. To the culture solution obtained above, 2 ml of the above substrate solution was added and a reaction was carried out for 24-48 hours under the same conditions as above. After completing the reaction, solid matters and cells were removed from the resultant culture solution by centrifugal separation. The resultant supernatant was extracted three times, each time using one third of its volume of ethyl acetate. The solvent was removed from the extracted solution with a rotary evaporator. A crude fraction thus obtained was dissolved in a small amount of chloroform (or methanol) and passed through a silica gel column HPLC (20 mm diameter x 300 mm length). The adsorbed fractions were eluted with a solvent mixture (chloroform:methanol = 98:2) and fractionated. The eluate could be divided into at least two fractions. A constituent confined in one of the fractions was identified as 7β,15β,17α-trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (the 1st compound of this invention) by the below described physicochemical properties obtained as a result of structural analysis. The yield was 9.6 mg. A constituent contained in the other fraction which was eluted earlier than above, for example, at 6 minutes as compared to 26 minutes for the above 1st compound was identified as 7β-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,15,20-trione by the same method as above. 7β,15β,17α-Trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione is represented by the chemical formula (II): The compound can be identified by the following physicochemical properties. 7β-Hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,15,20-trione is represented by the chemical formula (III): The compound can be identified by the following physicochemical properties. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY Preparation of ester derivative 7β,15β,17α-Trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione is used as an intermediate for the synthesis of progesterone derivatives having ovulation-inhibiting activity as illustrated below. For example, 7β,15β-diacetyl-17α-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione can be prepared by using the compound as the intermediate according to the below described procedures. That is, the compound is reacted with acetic anhydride in pyridine to give the above acetylated derivative in the yield of 96%. In accordance with the above mentioned procedures, disuccinic acid ester derivative or diglutaric acid ester is obtained respectively by reacting succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride in place of acetic anhydride. Test of cell differentiation activity: The below described compounds were respectively allowed to act for 48 hours on myelogenic leukemia M1 cells derived from SL mouse. The cell differentiation activity was measured by observing morphological change of the cells under a microscope. The results are indicated in Table 1. 7β-Hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,15,20-trione also exhibits cell differentiation activity to some extent on the M1 cells derived from mouse as indicated in Table 2. Reference to microorganisms deposited pursuant to Regulation 13 bis. Deposit Organization: Fermentation Research Institute of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Address: 1-3, Higashi-1-chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, JAPAN Deposit No.: FERN P-9143 Date of Deposit: January 21, 1987

Claims: 1. A novel 7β-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione derivative represented by the formula (I): wherein X is =0 or αHβOH, and Y is αOH. 2. 7β,15β,17α-Trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione. 3. A method for preparing a 7β-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione derivative represented by the formula (I): wherein X is =0 or αHβOH, and Y is αOH, which is characterized in that a microorganism belonging to Acremonium sp. is brought into contact with 4-pregnene-3,20-dione.

Inventors: MIYATA, NOBUO, NAKAKOSHI, MASAMICHI, TAMURA, KOJI 2-D, MATSUBARA MANSHON, YOSHIHAMA, MAKOTO
Applicants: SNOW BRAND MILK PRODUCTS & CO., LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C07J7
IPC codes: C07J7, C12P33