Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

George P Yiannikouros

Percy Sarwood Manchand

Hans G Richter

Paul Hebeisen

Henri Stalder

Ingrid Heinze-Krauss

Urs Weiss

Valeri Runtz

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxyphenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, and 3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl; as well as readily hydroyzable esters thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds and hydrates of the compounds of formula I and of their esters and salts.

Cephalosporin derivatives

The process of the invention comprises reacting a C-22-halo-23,24-bisnorsteroid or C-22-halo-23,24-bisnor-9,10-secosteroid with a nickel complex of an electron withdrawing alkene of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, hydroxycarbonyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylcarbonyl or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, and R.sub.2 is hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, to yield a C-25 or C-26 precursor of the formula ##STR2## which is appropriately functionalized for conversion into the corresponding steroid or secosteroid by treatment as hereinafter described.

Process for precursors to calcitriol and related compounds

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Westfield, NJ, United States of America

George P Yiannikouros