Richter Gedeon Vegyeszeti Gyar Rt

Arpad Trompler

Zoltan Tuba

Peter Horvath

Tamas Mester

Janos Szeles

Katalin Ferenczi

Krisztina Lancos

The invention relates to a new process for the synthesis of 17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-methyl-2-oxa-5&agr;-androstane-3-one of formula (I). The process according to the invention is as follows: the 17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-ethyl-1,3-seco-2-nor-5&agr;-androstane-1,3-diacid of formula (III) is transformed into the ring-closed 17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-methyl-1,3-seco-2-nor-5&agr;-androstane-1,3-diacid anhydride of formula (II) in an inert solvent or without solvent with a C -C alkan acid anhydride or a substituted carbodiimide of formula R &mdash;N&boxH;C&boxH;N&mdash;R &mdash; wherein R and R independently are C -C alkyl group, C -C alkyl group substituted by tertiary or quaternary amino group or 1-3 phenyl group, C -C cycloalkyl group, aryl group substituted by 1-3 methoxy, tertiary amino, nitro, C -C alkyl group or 1-3 halogen atom&mdash;and the obtained compound of formula (II) is reduced regioselectively by a complex alkali metal hydride in an inert solvent The new 17&bgr;-hydroxy-17&agr;-methyl-1,3-seco-2-nor-5&agr;-androstane-1,3-diacid anhydride of formula (II) is also the subject of the invention.

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Budapest, Hungary

Arpad Trompler