Patent ID: 7135494

Claim:
A compound of formula (I): wherein: the dotted line represents an optional double bond, with the proviso that at least one single bond is present between C7 and C10; R 1 is selected from hydrogen, C 1-12 alkyl, which may be optionally substituted by a group selected from hydroxyl, C 1-12 alkoxy, C 1-30 alkanoyloxy, optionally substituted C 7-11 , aroyloxy, optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyloxy, halogen, optionally substituted C 6-10 aryl, amino, mono-(C 1-12 alkyl)amino and di-(C 1-12 alkyl)amino; optionally substituted C 6-10 aryl; carboxy; C 1-30 alkoxycarbonyl; optionally substituted C 7-11 aryloxycarbony; optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkyloxycarbonyl; carbamoyl; N—(C 1-12 alkyl)carbamoyl and N,N-di-(C 1-12 alkyl)carbamoyl; R 2a and R 2b are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, C 1-12 alkyl, C 1-30 alkanoyl, optionally substituted C 7-11 aroyl, optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyl, C 1-12 alkoxy, C 1-30 alkanoyloxy, optionally substituted C 7-11 aroyloxy and optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyloxy, with the proviso that the substituent R 2b is absent if a double bond is present between C7 and C8; or R 2a and R 2b together represent oxygen; R 3a and R 3b are independently selected from hydrogen; halogen; hydroxy; amino; mono-(C 1-12 alkyl)amino; di-(C 1-12 alkyl)amino; C 1-12 alkoxy; C 1-30 alkanoyoxyl; optionally substituted C 7-11 aroyloxy; optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyloxy; C 1-12 alkyl, which may be optionally substituted by a group selected from hydroxy, C 1-12 alkoxy, C 1-30 alkanoyloxy, optionally substituted C 7-11 aroyloxy, optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyloxy, halogen, optionally substituted C 6-10 , aryl, amino, mono-(C 1-12 alkyl)amino and di-(C 1-12 alkyl)amino; optionally substituted C 6-10 aryl; C 1-30 alkanoyl, optionally substituted C 7-11 aroyl; optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyl; carboxy; C 1-30 alkoxycarbonyl; optionally substituted C 7-11 aryloxycarbonyl; optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkyloxycarbonyl; carbamoyl; N—(C 1-12 alkyl) carbamoyl and N,N-di-(C 1-12 alkyl) carbamoyl, with the proviso that the substituent R 3b is absent if a double bond is present between C9 and C10; or R 3a and R 3b together represent oxygen; and R 4 is selected from hydrogen, unsubstituted C 1-12 alkyl, C 1-30 alkanoyl, optionally substituted C 7-11 aroyl and optionally substituted C 8-16 aralkanoyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with the exception of the following compounds: (a) a compound wherein R 1 is hydrogen or halogen, R 2a , R 2b , R 3a and R 3b are all hydrogen, R 4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, and double bonds are present between C7 and C8 and between C9 and C10; (b) a compound wherein R 1 , R 2a , R 2b , R 3a and R 3b are all hydrogen, R 4 is methyl, and double bonds are present between C7 and C8 and between C9 and C10; and (c) a compound wherein R 1 , R 2a , R 2b , R 3a , R 3b and R 4 are all hydrogen, and no double bonds are present between C7 and C10.