Patent GB-1361158-A (GB)
Title: 15-oxasteroids
IPC: C07D307/77
Filed: 1973-01-12
Abstract: 1361158 15-Oxasteroids F HOFFMANNLA ROCHE & CO AG 12 Jan 1973 [14 Jan 1972] 1747/73 Heading C2C The invention comprises d, l and dl compounds of Formulae Ia and Ib wherein any 5-hydrogen atom has the α-configuration and wherein R is H, C 1-8  alkyl, cycloalkyl, C 1-8  alkanoyl or aroyl; R 1  is C 1-5  alkyl; R 2  is H; R 3  is oxo (optionally accompanied by a #<SP>4</SP>-double bond), hydroxy or C 1-8  alkanoyloxy; or R 2 , R 3  and the intervening carbon atoms form a [2,3-d]isoxazole, [3,2-c]isoxazole or [3,2-c]- pyrazole ring; R 10  is H or He; and Z is free or ketalized carbonyl group or a group of formula (A) or (B) wherein Y is carbonyl, hydroxymethylene or (C 1-8  alkanoyloxy)methylene; R 7  is H, C 1-8  alkyl, C 2-8  alkenyl or C 2-8  alkynyl; R 8  is H, C 1-8  alkyl, cycloalkyl, C 1-8  alkanoyl or aroyl; R 9  is H, OH or C 1-8  alkanoyloxy; and R 21  is H, halo, OH, or C 1-8  alkanoyloxy. Compounds Ia and Ib (wherein Z is carbonyl and R 3  is hydroxy or alkaroyloxy) are prepared by acid cyclization of the corresponding compounds of formula (wherein W<SP>1</SP> comprises the steroid A and B rings), and are convertible into other compounds Ia and Ib by one or more processes selected from: (i) reduction of 17-oxo; (ii) esterification/etherification of 3/17-OH; (iii) oxidation of 3/17/20-OH; (iv) conversion of 17-oxo to 17α-hydrocarbyl-17#-OH; (v) ketalization/ deketalization of 17-oxo; (vi) ring A aromatization; (vii) conversion of 17-oxo to 17-(1-hydroxyethyl) via 17-ethylidene; (viii) 4,5-dehydrogenation; (ix) insertion of 2,3-fused ring via 2-hydroxymethylene; and (x) reduction and hydrolysis of 3-ether-#<SP>1,3,5(10)</SP> to 3-oxo-#<SP>4</SP> via 3-ether-#<SP>2,5(10)</SP>. 3#,14# - Dihydroxy - 15 - diazo - 16 - oxo- 14,15 - seco - D - nor - 5α - androstane (XII) is prepared from epiandrosterone by reaction with o-nitrobenzaldehyde to give 3#-hydroxy-15- (3 - oxo - 2 - indolinylidene) - 15,16 - seco - D- nor - 5α - androstan - 16 - oic acid (X) and thence by the sequence: X # X-methyl ester # X 3-acetate 16-methyl ester #3#-acetoxy-15,16- seco - D - nor - 5α - androstane - 15,16 - dioic acid 16 - methyl ester #3#,14# - dihydroxy - 14,15- seco - D - dinor - 5α - androstan - 15 - oic acid (XI) 14-acetate 15-methyl ester (#XI 3,14- diacetate 15 - methyl ester) #XI #XI 3,14- diacetate #the acid choride thereof #XII diacetate #XII. 3,14# - Dihydroxy - 15 - diazo - 16 - oxo - 14,15- seco - D - norestra - 1,3,5(10) - triene and its 3-methyl ether are prepared by a similar series of reactions from estrone and its 3-methyl ether respectively. 17 - Ethylenedioxy - 15 - oxaandrosta - 1,4- dien - 3 - one is prepared from 15 - oxa - 5aandrostane-3,17-dione via 2α,4α-dibromo-15-oxa- 5α - androstane - 3,17 - dione and 15 - oxaandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione. 2 - Hydroxymethylene - 17# - hydroxy - 17α- methyl - 15 - oxa - 5α - androstan - 3 - one is prepared from its 2-unsubstituted analogue by reaction with ethyl formate/sodium methoxide/ pyridine. 3 - Methoxy - 15 - oxaestra - 2,5(10) - dien- 17# - ol and 3 - methoxy - 15 - oxa - 19 - norpregna - 1,3,5(10), 17(20) - tetraene are each conventionally prepared from 15-oxaestrone 3-methyl ether. 3 - Methoxy - 15 - oxa - 19 - norpregna-2,5(10)- dien-20-ol is prepared from the corresponding 1,3,5(10)-triene. Compounds Ia and Ib are said to possess estrogenic, androgenic, anabolic and progestational activities, and may be made up with carriers into pharmaceutical compositions for oral and parenteral administration.