| abstract |
Trihydroxypregnene-3,20-diones (I) and especially 11 beta, 17 alpha, 21-trihydroxy-15, 16 beta-methylene-pregnene (4)-(and pregna-1,4-diene)-3,20-dione, for use as anti-inflammatories. R6 and R9 independently are H, halogen, R17, R21 independently are OH or O-acyl; Z is CO or beta-CH2OH. Preparation of (I) and 1,2-dehydro-deriv. by numerous methods e.g. (a) microbiological 11-hydroxylation of (I) (Z=CH2); (b) 1,2-dehydrogenation of a cmpd. (I); (c) adding HOCl or HOBr to the 9,11-double bond a cmpd. (I) or its, 1,2-dehydro-derivs. (Z = HC). In an example 11 beta, 17 alpha-21-trihydroxy-15,16 beta-methylene-pregnene (4)-3,20-dione, m.p. 219-221 degrees is obtained by microbiological hydroxylation of 17 alpha, 21-dihydroxy-15,16 beta-methylene-pregnene (4)-3,20-dione using Coniothyrium hellebori as organism. |