| abstract |
A process for the preparation of cortexolone 17α-propionate in crystalline form III, wherein said crystalline form III is characterized by a DRX spectrum as depicted in Figure 7 or 10 or 13 and by a DSC spectrum such as is represented in Figure 8 or 11 or 14 and by an IR spectrum as shown in Figure 9 or 12 or 15, said process comprising reacting a compound of formula II in an organic solvent with a compound of formula III R 'OH (III) in the presence of a Candida lipase, wherein R is CH3-CH2 and R' is a linear aliphatic chain containing 1-10 carbon atoms to produce 17α-cortexolone propionate, and the crystallization of said 17α Cortexolone propionate from a dichloromethane / n-hexane mixture, or a mixture of acetone / |