Schering Corporation

Thomas L Popper

Richard W Draper

Elliot L Shapiro

Arthur S Watnick

Steroidal 6-azido-4,6-pregnadieno[3,2-c]pyrazoles having glucocorticoid activity are prepared by treating a 6-unsubstituted-4,6-pregnadieno[3,2-c]pyrazole with a halogen azide followed by treatment of the thereby formed 6-azido-7-halogeno-6,7-dihydro-4-pregnene[3,2-c]pyrazole with a dehydrohalogenating agent. Other methods of preparing these compounds are described, including the process of treating a 6-azido-17.alpha.,20; 20,21-bismethylenedioxy-4,6-pregnadiene-3-one with an alkyl formate in the presence of base followed by treatment of the resulting 2-hydroxymethylene derivative with a hydrazine or, alternatively, by converting said 2-hydroxymethylene to a 2-alkoxymethylene derivative followed by treatment thereof with a hydrazine. Preferred compounds include 6-azido-11.beta.,17.alpha.,21-trihydroxy-20-keto-4,6-pregnadieno[3,2-c]pyr azoles, particularly 2'-phenyl-9.alpha.-fluoro(and 9.alpha.-chloro)-16-methyl-derivatives thereof which possess potent anti-inflammatory activity. Of interest is 2'-phenyl-6-azido-9.alpha.-fluoro-11.beta.,17.alpha.,21-trihydroxy-16.alph a.-methyl-20-keto-4,6-pregnadieno[3,2-c]pyrazole.

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West Caldwell, NJ, United States of America

Thomas L Popper