CA1115691A - Steroid-spiro-oxazolidinon-derivatives and process for preparing same - Google Patents

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

The invention relates to novel spirooxazolidines re-presented by the general formula I' (I) wherein R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenvl havina from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or dialkyl-phosphinlmethyl having in the alkyl moiety from 2 to 3 carbon atoms each.
Z is one of the groups represented by the general formulee III to XIV

(III) (IV) (V) (VI) (VII) (VIII) (IX) (X) \
(XI) (XII) (XIII) (XIV) Abstract Wherein R3 is hydrogen or methyl, R4 is fluorine, hydroxyl, acyloxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyloxy having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, oxo, oximino or alkoximino having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R5 is oxo, oximino or alkoximino having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R6 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, with the proviso that if R1 is methyl and Z represents a group of the general formula XII, wherein R6 is methyl, the R2 is different from hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms -and stereoisomers thereof.
A process for the preparation is also within the scope of this invention.
The above compounds possess valuable pharmaceutical properties. Some representatives for example show remark-able anti-aldosterone activity.

Description

56~i

- 2 -~ hi~ invention relates to novel ~pirooxazolidines.
~ore ~pecifically, the i~vention relates to compound~ which can be represented by the following general formula I

~ ,1 ~ \ ~ (I) Z
\\~
wherein Rl i~ alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 is ~ydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atom~, alkenyl having from 1 to 4 csrbon atom~ or dialkyl-phosphinox~methyl having in the alkyl moiety from 1 to

3 carbon atom~ eaeh, Z i~ one o~ the group~ reprea~nted by the general formulae III to ~IV

f ~ (III) f ~ (IV) 3 ~ A 1355-67-3- 1~15~i9i ~ (v R~ ,~'~,~

~,,Ç (VI) R5,/l`\~ ~J

~/\

~\~ (VII ) R5~ ~ ::

\~ tVIII

~ (IX) 3 R ~/~

lS691 JO~- (o ~ ~- (XI) ~/\

-R60 ~ ~ (XIII) ~, ~ ~ (XIV) ~herein R3 is hydroeen or methyl, ~0 R4 1~ fluorine, hydroxyl, ~oyloxy having from 1 to 3 1 ~ 56~3 -- carbon atome, alko~ycarbonylogy having irom 1 to 4 carbon atoma, o~o, o~imino or alko~i~ino having $rom l to 3 carbon atom~, R5 i# o~o, oximino or alkoximino having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R6 i8 alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atom~, with the proviso that i~ Rl i8 methyl a~d Z repre~ent~ a group oi the general formula ~II, wherein R6 i8 methyl, then R2 i~ different $rom hydrogen or alkyl ha~ing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. ~hi~ invention also covers ~tereoi~Qmers oi the above compound~.
A proces# ~or the preparation of the above compound~ of the general rormula I, wherein Rll R2 and Z are aa de~ined above, i~ also ~ithin the scope o$ the invention~
The new chemical compounds with which this in~ention ie co~cerned ¢an be prepared by subjecting a compound of the general formula II

/'\/ \ I
, / (II) ~, - ~herein Rl and Z are a~ defined above and Y ~tands for a group having the general iormula XV

~1 -R2 \ C ~ 2 or XVI
~0 1" \lll CH2 6~ 156~31 wherein R2 i~ a~ defined above and R7 is hydrogen or alkoxycarbonyl having ~rom 1 to 4 carbon atom~ -to ring closure, in ca~e o$ an alko~ycarbonyl ~ alone or together with a ketone and i~ other cases by reacting with a carbonic acid derivative suitable to form an oxazolidinone group, in the pre3ence of a base, preierably oi an alkali metal hydro~ide or metalalcOholat~ and, if de~ired, tran3formi~g the ¢ompound of the general formula I
obtained into another compound of the general formula I.
~he compound of the g~ner~l ~ormula I obtained in the above process is preferably tr&n~formed into another oompound of the general formula I by o~idation, halogenation and subsequent dehydrohalogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrolysis, alkylation or bytran~forming the 3-o~o group or it~ enol ether into an oximino or alko~imino group.
The compounds of this invention po~sess valuabla pharmaceutical properties. Thu~ they show remarkable anti-aldoaterone activity.
A valuable group o~ the new steroid derivative~ of the general formula ~ can be prepared by ~ubjecting to ring ¢losure, in the presence oi a ba~e, preferably of an alkali metal hydro~ide or alcoholate, a compound of the general formula II - wherein ~ and Z are as defined above and Y represents a group of the general formula XV, ~herein R2 is as defined above and R7 is hydrogen or alko~ycarbonyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atom~ -alone or - ii R7 stands ior hydrogen - together with a ,~

1~5691 earbonic acid derivati~e suitable to rorm a -C-O group.
According to a preferred embodiment of thi~ proce~
variant a lo~er dialkyl carbonate, chloroearbonic acid alkyl-ester or phosgene is used as a carbonic acid derivative suitable to form a -C=0 group.
Another group Or advantageou~ pharmacological properties can be prepared by reacting a compound of the general formula II
- wherein Rl and Z are a~ derined above and Y represent~ a group of the formula ~VI -with a carbonic acid deri~ative suitable to form an -J-a.o group - wherein R2 is ae stated above - i~ the pre~ence Or a base, preierably oi an alkali metal hydro~ide or alcoholate.
~e a earbonic aoid derivative suitable to form an -~-a,o group - wherein R2 i8 hydrogen, alkyl or alkenyl R2 having rrom 1 to 4 carbon atoms each - preferably an N-mono-oub~tituted-carbamate or urethane or an alkyl or alkenyl isocyanato or optionally substituted urea are employed.
~urther preierable compound~ Or the general formula I, in whieh Rl and R2 are as derined abo~e and Z repro0ents a group Or the general rormula IV or ~IV, wheroin R3 i8 methyl and R4 and R5 each are an oxo group -can be prepared by oxidizing a compound Or the general formula II - wherein Y repre~ents a group of the general rormula XV, wherein R2 is as defined above and 1~15691 R7 i~ an alkoxycarbonyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, i~ as defined above and Z repre~ent~ a group of the general formula III or ~IV, wherein R3 is methyl and R4 i~ hydroxyl -with a ketone, in the presence of aluminium alcoholate.
According to this proce~ vsriant ~-carbalkoxy-17~-al~ylaminomsthyla~drost-5-en-3~-ol and the 5~,19-cyclo-andro~t-6-en-3-ol derivatives having an analogou~ structure can be transformed into the corre~ponding steroid ~piro-oxazolidine~ having the ~ 4-3-keto-~tructure or bearing a 3-keto group on a cycloandrostane skeleton, in a single reaction step, ~ince the oxidation - pre~erably Oppenauer oxidation - and the ring closure take place simultaneously.
Another interesting ~oup of the compound~ of the general formula I - in which Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z i8 a group having the general formula IV or ~IV, wherein R3 i~ methyl, R5 is an o~o group and R4 i~ an o~o group -25 csn be prepared by o~idizing 8 ~tarting compound of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above snd Z i~ a group of the general formula III or ~IV, ~herein R3 i3 methyl and _ 9 _ 1~15691 R4 is hydro~yl -with a ketone, in the pre~ence of an aluminium alcoholate.
By following this reaction androst-4-en-3-on-17-~piro-oxazolidines are prepared by Oppenauer oxidation of the ¢orresponding ~ 5-3~-ol-~piroandrostane derivatives.
Similarly, by the oxidation of 3-hydroxy-5~,19-cycloandro~t--6-en-17-spirooxazolidines the corresponding keto derivatives are obtained.
A further valuable group of the compounds of the general ; 10 formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are a~ defined above and Z repreeents a group ha~ing the general formula XIV, wherein - R4 is an oxo group -can be prepared by o~idizing a starting compound of the general formula I -wherein and R2 are as defined above and Z ~tand~ for a group having the general formula ~IV, wherein R4 i~ hydroxyl -~ith ¢hromi¢ acid.
~his reaction i~ another variant for the transformation *~
of 3-hydroxy-5~,19-cycloandrost-6-en-17-spirooxazolidines into the corresponding 3-keto derivative~, in which the oxldation i~ per~ormed with chromic acid.
An other advantageous group o~ the compounds of the general ~ormula I - wherein Rl and ~ are as defined above and Z repre~ent~ a group having the general formula V, wherein R3 is methyl and 30~ R5 i~ an o~o group -,~,1 - lo - l~lS69~
can be prepared by saturating a starting compound of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z represents a group having the general formula III, ~herein R3 is as defin~d above and ~4 is hydroxy _ with an equimolar amount o~ bromine, subsequently oxidizing the 3-hydroxy group to a ketone and eliminat~ng 2 moles of hydrogen bromide.
In this reaction androst-5-en-3-ol-17-spirooxazolidines ¢an be transformed into androst-4,6-dien-3-on-spirooxazolidines.
This reaction can easily be accomplished by the addition of one mole of bromine to the double bond in the 5-position, ~ubsequent oxidation of the ~-hydroxyl group with sodium bichromate in glacial acetic a¢id, and elimination of 2 moles of hydrogen bromide from the dibromoketone obtained in the presence Or lithium bromide and lithium carbonate in dimethylformamide.
Valuable oompounds of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z 1~ a ~roup hav~ng the general formula V, VI or VII, wherein

4'~ R3 ls as defined above and R5 stand~ for an oxo group -25 can be pre~ared by reacting a starting compound of the general formula I
- wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z is a group having the general formula III, IV or V, wherein R3 and R4 are as defined above and d~

156~

R5 stand~ ~or an oxo group -with a dehydrogenating agent. In this process, in addition to the ~4, ~5 and ~4~6 double bonds, a further double bond is ~ormed in the molecule by u~ing a dehgdrogenating agent, preferably a benzoquinone derivative. The reaction i~ pre~erably ef~ected in dioxane with boiling. Thu~ for instance oxidation o~ spirooxazolidine~ having the ~ 4-3-keto structure with chloranil (tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone) affords A 4'6-3-k~to-~piro derivatives, while ~ 1~4_3_ keto or ~ l'4'6-3-keto-3piro compounds are obtained if 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicy~n-p-benzoquinone (~D~) is employed as an oxidizing agent. Starting from androst~5-en-3~-ol-17-spirooxazolidine derivatives and employing DD~ as oxidiz.ing agent, ~l'4'6-3-keto compounds are prepared.
Further advantageous compounds of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z represents a group having the general formula XI or IV, wherein R5 is an oxo group and * R3 is hydrogen -can be obtained by hydrolyzing a ~tarting compound of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are a~ defined above and 2 ~tands ~or a group having the general ~ormula X, wherein R6 is as defined above -with an acid-~ In this process the acid hydrolysis o~ 3-alkogy-2,5~10)-diene-steroid-17-spirooxazolidine3 can be carried out with a weak acid, e,g. malonic acid or acetic acid, in an aqueou~ alcoholic ~olution whereby spiro compounds having the - 12 - 13L~569~

5~1)-3-keto ~tructure are obtained. Hydroly~i~ with mineral acids, eOg. with hydrochloric acid afford~ spiro compounds having the ~4-3-keto structure.
A ~urther group of advantageous compounds of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z represent~ a group having the general formula XII, wherein R6 i8 as defined above -can be prepared by reacting a starting compound of thegeneral formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z repre~ente a group having the general formula ~, wherein R6 is aæ defined above -with bromine, in the presence of pyridine. Thi~ methodrenders possible to introduce a further double bond into l9-nor-stsroid-spiroogazolidone~, A further group oi valuable compounds of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are a~ defined above and Z stand~ for a group having the general formula VIII
- wherein R5 is an o~o group -can be obtained by reacting a starting compound of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z represents a group having the general formula ~I
- wherein R5 i~ an oxo group -with bromine, in the presence of pyridine. Also this proces~ provides a suitable mean for the formation of further double bonds in 19-nor~steroid-spirooxazolidine~. When , ,.~

reacti.ng ~piro compounds o~ the 3-allcoxy-2,.5(10)-diene type with bromine in pyridine, 3-alkoxy-1,3,.5(10)-trlene-17-spirooxazolidines are obtained. Similarly, ~tarting ~rom ~ 5(1)-3-keto-~teroid-spirooxazolidines ~ 4'9(10?-3-keto-spiro compounds can be prepared. These reactions can be.carried out more advantageously when in place of bromine pyridinium bromide perbromide is added into the solution Or the ~teroid Ytarting oompound in pyridine.
Further valuable oompounds Or the general formula I
- ~herein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z stands for a group having the general ~ormula I~
- ~herein R5 is an oxo group -can be prepared by reacting a ~tarting oompound o~ the general ~ormula I - ~herein Rl and R2 are as de~ined above and Z represents a group having the general formula VIlI
- wherein R5 is an oxo ~roup -with a secondary amine, hydrolyzing the obtained 3-di-~ubstituted-amino- ~3'5(10)'9(11)-steroid with a weak acid, and thereafter roaoting the 3-keto- ~ (10)'9(11~-steroid ~ormea wlth a dehydrogenatine aeent. By the aid of thi3 proce8~ varlant ~ 4~9(lo)-3-~eto-l7-spiroo~azolidinyl otero~ ¢an be tran~rormed into the oorresponding enamine~, prererably ~ith pyrrolidine ln methanol, and the pyrro-lidino compound~ obtained are subjected to a mlld aold hydrolysls, preferably with an aqueou~ a¢etio aoid ~olutlon, whereby ~piro compound~ ha~lng the 3-keto-~ 5(10),9(11) structure are obtalned. When the~e compounds are dehydrogenated, preferably with diohlorodioyane-~-~a - 14 ~ S691 benzoquinone in dioxa~e, compou~ds having the 3-keto-4,9tlO), 11 8tructure are prepared.
Another ~aluable group of the compound3 having the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z represents a group haring the gsneral ~ormula V, wherein R3 is as de~ined above snd R5 ~tands for an oxo group -can be obtained by reacting a starting compound of the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are a~ defined above and Z stands for a group having the general formula IV, wherein R3 is a~ defined above and R5 stands for an o~o group -15 , with an orthoformic acid ester and reacting the enol etherobtained with a dehydrogenating agent~ This proces~ is an advantageou~ way for preparing ~4'6-3-keto-type steroid-~piro-o~azolidines, and can be successfully u~ed ~or the preparation of l9-nor-spirooxazolidines and other ~piro-o~azolidine compounds having an anarostane structure aswell~ ~he reaction o~ a spirooxazolidine of the ~ 4-3-keto tructure with orthoformic acid ethylester can be carried out in the presence of an acid catalyst, preferably p-toluene~ulfonic acid or a diluted solution of sulfuric a¢id in dio~ane to obtain the corresponding e.~ol ether which i then isolated and subsequently dehydrogenated in an aqueous acetone solution, preferably with chloranil.
A further preierred group of the compunds of the general formula I can be prepared by transforming a compound oi the general formula I - wherein 15 1~15691 Rl iB a~ defined above, R2 is hydrogen and Z repre~ents o~e o~ the groups ha~ing the general ~ormulae III to ~IV, wherein R3, R4, R5 and R6 are a~ defined above -into a corresponding ~-alkali metal salt ~hich i~ then reacted with an alkyl or alkenyl halide having from 1 to 4 ¢arbon atom~, each, or with a dialkylpho~phinomethyl halide having from 1 to 3 carbon atom~ or with a reactive ester, pre~erably a methanesul~onic acid ester of a dialkyl~phosphin-ozymethanol. ~his pro¢ess is a ~uitable method for the ~reparation of N-~ub~tituted ~teroid 17-~pirooxazolidines.
According to a preferred embodiment o~ this reaction Yteroid 17-~piroo~azolidines ha~ing no ~ub~tituent on the nitrogen atom are reacted with ~odium hydride in a suit~ble ~olvent, and the ~-sodium salt obtained is alkylated situ with an alkyl or alkenyl halide, dialkylphosphino~ymethyl halide or with a reactive eeter, e~g. the metha~esulfonic a¢id e~ter, of dialkylpho~phinoxy-methano L
~urther preferred compounds having the general formula I - wherein Rl and R2 ar0 as deiined above and Z stands for one of the groups represented by the general formulae IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, Ig or ~I, wherein R3 is a~ defined above and R5 ~tands for an oximino or an alko~imIno group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or Z may ~tand for a group having the general formula ~IV, wherein R4 i~ an oximino or an alkoximino group having from - 16- 1:~5691 1 to 3 carbon atom~ -can be prepared by reacting a starting compound of the general formula I - where~n Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z stand~ for one of the group~ repre3ented by the general formulae IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX or gI, wherein R3 i~ as defined above and R5 is an o~o group, or Z stands for a group having the general formula XIY, wherein R4 is an o~o group -with hydroxylamine or with an 0-alkyl-hydroxylamine having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, In thi~ process the starting oxo-compound i~ preferably reacted with hydroxylamine chlorohydrate or 0-alkyl-hydroxylamine chlorohydrate, in an aqueous alcoholic medium, in the presence of sodium acetate, A~other further pre~erred group of the compounds of the general formula I - wherein Rl ana R2 are as defined abo~e and Z ~tand~ ~or a group having the general formula IV, wherein R3 is hydrogen and R5 i~ an oximino or alkoximino group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms -can be obtained by reacting a starting compound having thegeneral formula I - wherein Rl and R2 are as defined above and Z is a group having the general formula g - wherein R6 is as defined above with a hydroxylamine salt or an 0-alkyl-hydroxylamine salt, ,, ~", - 17- 1~1569~

in the pre~ence of a ba~e. Thi8 reaction provides an ad-vantageou~ way for the preparation of the o~imes and 0-alkyl-oxime~ of A 4-3-keto-steroid-spirooxa&olidines.
A¢cording to a preferred embodiment of this proces~ a 3-alko~y-2,5(10)-diene-steroid-17-spirooxa~olidine i8 rea¢ted with hgdroxylamine-¢hlorohydrate or an 0-alkyl-hydroxylamine-chlorohydrate in pyridine to prepare the o~ime or the corresponding 0-alkyl-oxime ot the ~4-3-keto-~teroid-spirooxazolidinone ~tarting compound in a ~ingle reaction step.
~he preparation of certain compounds within the scope Or thi~ invention has been de~cribed in the United States Patent ~o, 3,272,801. According to this known process a compound having the general formula II - wherein Rl is methyl, Y i3 a group represented by the general formula ~V, ~hereia R2 and R7 are hydrogen, and Z stands for a group ha~ing the general formula XII, ~herein R6 i8 methyl - is reacted with phosgene in the presence o~ a base, and the obbained ¢ompound of the general formula I - wherein R2 i~
hydrogen - is ~ub~equently transformed into it~ sodium salt which 1~ then iurther al~ylated to give the aimed ¢ompound.
Starting materials of the process acc~rding to the invention sre prepared in a manner ~nown E~_ se from a ~uitable 17-keto-#teroid. ~his compound is trane~ormed into a corre~ponding ~teroid spiroo~irane for e~ample by means of dimethylsul~onium methylide r~. ~ubner and J~ Noack:
J. f. prakt. Chem. 314, 667 ~1972)3~ This reaction proceeds ~tereo#pecifically and yields spiroo~iranes in which the a#ymmetrio carbon atom in the 17-position is e~clusively in the S configuration. It is also known that when using ~a - 18- 1~15691 a di~ferent kind o~ 3ulfur-ylide, for instance dimethyl-sul~oxo~ium meth~lide, 6pirooxiranes having the R
con~iguration in the 17-position can also be prepared.
~rom enantiomeric 17-keto-~teroids the corre~ponding 5 enantiomeric spirooxiranes are obtained. It will be noted that the denomination of the configuration cf the 17-carbon atom and of the instant compounds i3 in agreement with the rules la~ed down by the IUPA~ and publi~hed in Hoppe Seylers Z. Pbysiol, Chem. 351, 687 (1970), Some of the steroid-17-spirooxiranes used in the process according to the invention are novel compounds, bypical representative~ of which are listed hereinbelow:
13~-ethy1-3-metho~ygona-2,5 tlO)-diene-17S-~piroo~ira~e;
ent.l30-ethgl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spirooxirane;
15 3~-iluoroandrost-5-ene-17~-spirooxirane;
3-methoxyoestra-1,3,5(10),9(11)-oestratetraene-17S-spirooxirane and 3~-hydro~-5~,19-¢ycloandrost-6-ene-17S-~piro~c~rane.
The process for the preparation o~ the starting compounds 170~-mo~osubstituted-aminomethyl-steroids and 20 the l~-carbalkoxy derivative~ thereo~ preferably involves ,~ the reaction oi the corresponding steroid-17-spi~rooæirane with esce~ oi the corre~ponding amine, in the presence o~ ~toluene~ulioni¢-acid as a catalyst, with or ~vithout any ~olvent, The N-¢arbalko~r aerivatives are advantageou~ly 25 prepared irom the~e aompounds by reacting them with a ~rocarbonic acid dialkylester or with a chlorocarbonic acid ester, in the pre~ence oi an acid-bil~ding agent.
~ ldosterone antagonist e~ect of the compounds according to the invention - ~hich mean~ in other words 30 that th~ae compound~ bloclc the eiiect of aldosterone on the ,~a - 19 - ~ll569l electrolyte proportion in kidney - has been te~ted by using the method of C. M. Kagawa ~C. M. Ksgawa et al., J. Pharmacol.
Exp. Ther. 126, 123 ~1959~ .
18 hour~ after the removal of their suprarenel gland, desoxycorticosterone acetate ~DOCA) wa~ administersd to rats which were simultaneously treated with the test and, respectively, the reference compounds. The re~erenoe compound, i.e. Spironolactone ~17~-carbo~yethyl-17~-hydro~y-7~-acetylthioandrost-4-en-3-one-lactone), was administered orally in a dose of 480 /ug./animal. ~he ~a+ and K+
concentrations in the ur~ne of the treated animals were determined by flame photometry. Evaluation was made on the ba~is o~ the ~a~/K+ proportions.
It was found that the mineralocorticoid e~rect of the DO~A ~a~ signi~i¢antly inhibited by numerous compound~
a¢cording to the invention.
Prom the data set forth in ~ablè I it appears bhat the effect e~erted by the test compounds i8 ~unctio~ of the do~e applied. ~he DOCA blocking activity of the test compounds varie~ between 24% and 123%.

- 20_ ~;i5~

I I ~ I CD l I I ~ l l O, I
I+~ol-'l ` 1' 1 1 ' 1 1 1 1''1 4 ~1 V ~ ~ ~t C~J rl 0 N ~ ~1 1~1~ ~ q l~a~ ¦

O O O N O O O t-- O O O O O t~ O 0 ~ O N
~4 +1 +l~tl +1+1 +1+1 +1+1 +1 +~ ~ +1 +1+1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +

O ~ N rl ~i ~i O ~i O C~ ~ U~ O ~1 O ~i ~1 0 N
1~ ~ 1 000 ODCO ~D~D 00t) 00D 0~)0~ CD~ ~ o~ ~1 I o ,~ oo loo I 1 1 I o I oo v I o ~ ¦ 8 ~ o o 1 1 ¦ 0+~D ¦ ~o ¦ ~o~ ¦ ~D ¦ +~

. '7 ~

- 21 ~ ~ ~15~

The antiandrogenic activity of the compound~ according to the in~ention - an undesirable side-effect e~erted by 3pironolaotone during protracted treating - wa~ tested by the modified method of Dor~man (R. Dorfman: Steroids 2, 185 /1963/), Castrated male mice weighing 25 to 30 g, each were treated with testosterone propionate (T~ P.) in every ~econd day~ The total dose amounted to 300 /ug,/2 weeks/animal.
~he test compound~ were admini~tered parallel with the T,P, but every day, in a subcutaneous dose Or 5 mg/2 weeks/animal.
The antiandrogenic activity of a given test compound was expre~sed in %, I~ the increase in weight o~ the vesicula ~eminalic gland induced by T,P~ i8 100%, subtracting the Weight-incresse induced by the combination of T.P, and the test compound ~rom 100, the percentage inhibition is obtai~ed.
It ha# been found that the inhibition caused by 5.0 and 10.0 mg/2 weeks/animal subcutaneou~ doses of Spironolactone was 32.5% and 50,6%, respecti~ely, No inhibition was ob~erved, however, when applying the test compounds in doses ~et forth in the attached ~able II.
,~f Certain compounds encompassed by the general formula I
~how also other hormonic activitie~. The antialdosterone acti~ity exerted by 13~-ethylgona-4,9(10),11-trien-3-one-17$-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methylo~azolidine) for instance i8 negligible when compared with the compound~ listed in ~able I, but it show~ a surprisi~gly high antiandrogenic acti~ity ~when administered in a doRe of 300 /ug/2 weeks/animal, the inhibition against 300 /ug/2 week~/animal do~es oi ~,P, 3mount~ to 70%, - 22 - l~lS~l a a u~ ~t o o Lr~ o 0 ~ ~ o ,1 ~ ~ c~J
~a ~ u~ l ~ ~ +
+l .

~0 ~ ~
u~ ~D O O u~ O
0~ o c-~ a) ~ ~ c~ u~
O ~ ~ a~ ,~ ~1 ~1 ~1 4~ ~1 ~1 ~ ~1 ~

~0 . . o E~ 0 ^~ ~ O O O O O - O O OD
Ov~ o u~o u~ u~ ~ u~ ~ ~' ~ . q~
*~ I~ l rl ~1~ l ,~ ~ ~o u~ q) o~ ~ l c .~ ~:~3 l 9~ x ' ~o~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ô ~~1 <D ~ q~ '0 o ¦ 8 1 ~ ~2 ' ¦ ~ 8 ¦~ ¦ 8 - 23 _ 1 ~ 5 6 ~ ~

The novql steroid derivative~ with which this invention i~ concerned are ef~ective diuretics having a spiro struc~ure and may be obtained from readily available ~tarting compound~
in some simple reaction steps, with an excellent yield.
Purther detail~ of this invention are to be fou~d in the following non-limiting Egamples.

E~camPle 1 3~-Hydro~yandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-methyloxazolidine) Step NA~
31.9 g o$ andro~t-5-en-3~-ol-17S-~piroo~irane ~D. ~, K~rk and ~ A, Wilson: J, Chem, Soc~ (~) 422 (1971 are ~dmixed with 3.19 g of ~-toluenesulfonic ac~d. 110 ml of liquid methylamine are then added and the mixture is heated at 135 C for 16 hours in a bomb tube~ A$ter opening the bomb tube ex¢e~s methylamine i8 e~aporated, the re~idue i~ taken up in a small portion of water, filtered and washed to neutral, ~he dry raw product i~
dissolved in 1200 ml of ethyl acetate while hot, The eolution is evaporated to a volume of about 250 ml and 250 ml o~ n-hexa~e are added. Upon cooling 29.37 g of 17~-methylaminomethylandrost-5-ene-3~,17~-diol are filtered off, M,p, 197 to 198 ~; ~c~]20 _ -85 (c = 0~5, chloro-~orm), Step nBn ~o the ~u~pension of 12.35 g o~ 17~-methylam~nomethyl-androst-5-ene-3~,17~Ldiol in 130 ml o$ dry dichloromethane 11,8 g o~ diethyl W rocarbonate are added portionwise, ~h~le 8tirri~g, Whe~ there is no more ~parkling the - 2~ 5~1 solution i8 heated for 3 hours on a water bath and evaporated.
The c~talline re~idue i~ taken up in a 1:1 mixture OI
cold methanol and isopropyl ether and sub~equently filtered to yield 13,7 g of crude s-etho~cycarbonyl-170~-methyl-aminomethylandrost-5-er~e-313,17R-diol, Tha obtained crude praduct i~ recrystallized from methanol, M~p. 161 C;
Lo~l20 = -68 (c, o.5, chloro~orm).
Step "C"
16,77 g of N-ethoxycarbonyl-170~-methglaminomethyl-androst-5-ene-3~,17~-diol are dis~olved in a sodium ethylate ~olution prepared from 1 g of ~odium and 180 ml of ethanol and heated for o~e hour at a water bath. ~he reaction mixture i~ evaporated, the residue taken up in water and filtered. 14.11 g of crude andro~t-5-ene-3~-ol-17S-~piro-5'-t2'-o~co-3'-methylo~cazolidine) are obtained.
Ia,p. (after recrystallization from ethyl acetate) 213 C;
E~] 20 = -116 ~c = o.5, chloroform), This reaction ~tep can be carried out also by using, instead of sodium ethylate, pota~ium hydro2ide dissolved in ethanol.

E~ample 2 313-Ethoa~ycarbonylo~yandrost-5-ane-17S-sPiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-methyloxazolidine) 1, 66 g of 170( methylaminomethylandrost-5-ene-3~,17 2 5 diol and 16 ml of diethyl carbonate are ~tirred in the preeence of 0,40 g of pota~sium-tert-butylate at 160 C
for 2.5 hours, ~he reaction mixture i~ evaporated to about one third of it3 ~lolume and then poured onto water, 1.80 g of the crude title compound are obtained, which are then - 25 ~ S691 recry~tallized from 20 ml of methanol to yield 1.43 g of the pure title product~ M,p. 190 C; C~ 20 = -92 tc = 0,5, chloroform).

ExamPle 3 Andro~t-4-en-3-one-17S-~piro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-methyl oxazolidine ) Method "A"
~he mi~ture of 9.0 g oi a~drost-5-en--3~-ol-17S-8piro-5'-~2'-o20-3 '-methylogazolidine) prepared according to E~ample 1, 10.2 g of aluminium isopropylate and 52 ml of cyclohexanone i~ boiled in 200 ml of dry toluene for 13 hours, Upon cooling, the reaction mixture i~ extracted with three portions of 50 ml each of a 5% hydrochloric acid ~olution, 15 ml o~ water, and 15 ml of Qaturated ~odium hydrogen carbonate 301ution and with watsr, ~he organic pha~e i~ dried, evaporated and the oily residue triturated with isopropyl ether. The ¢ry~talline product obtained i8 wa3hed with isopropyl ether on a filter. Re-crystallization o~ the crude product from ethyl acetate af~ords 4.2 g of the pure compound. M.p. 189 C;
~'d. r~32 ~ ~44 ~c , 0.5~ chloroform),, When the crude product is recryetallized from metha~ol, upon the addition of isopropyl ether, the melting point of the title product 1~ difrerent: 148 C~
Method "B"
~he mixture o$ 2.03 g of N-etho~ycarbonyl-17~-methyl-aminomethylandro~t-5-en--3B-ol 5.2 ml of c-hexamone, and 2.Q4 g o~ aluminium isopropylate in 30 ml of dry toluene is boiled ~or 7 hours, The reaction mixture i8 eætracted with a 5~ hydrochloric ~a - 26 _ 1~156~

acid ~olution. ~hereafter the organic pha~e i3 shaken to neutral wibh ~aturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and water, dried and evaporated. Prom the oily residue, after tritursti~g with isopropyl ether, 1.08 g oi crude andro~t-4-en--3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) are obtained. ~p. ~a~ter recry~tallization from ethyl acetate) 188 to 189 C; c~ D0 = ~44 (c = 0,5, chloroform), Examp~e 4 3~-~ydroxyandroot-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-allyloxazolidine) Step ~An ~y following the procedure described in Example 1, Step "A" but starting from 9~06 g of 3~-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-~piroo~irane and using 25 ml of sl~lylamine and 0,90 g o~E~toluenesulfonic acid, after recry~tallization SrQm ethyl acetate 7.72 g of 17o~allylaminomethylandrost-5-e~e-3~,17~Ldiol are obtained; m.p, 145 C; ~ D0 = -86 (c ~ 0,5, chloroform), Step nBn 4~
Ey follo~ing the procedure de~cribed in the Example 1, Step "B" bute ~tarting from 7.18 g of 17o~allylamino-methyla~drost-5-ene-3~,17~Ldiol and recrystallizing the crude end-product from ethyl acetate upon addition of i~o~ropyl ether, 6.92 g of ~-ethoxycarbonyl-17a-allylamino-methylandro~t-5-ene-3~,17~-diol are obtained; m,p. 148 C;
t~ 20 , _57 (c 0,5, chloroform), step ncn Ring closure o~ the above ~-ethoxycarbonyl-N-allyl-.~

..

- 27 - 1~15691 aminomethyl compound carried out a~ described in E~ample 1, Step "C" affords the title compound, melting at 258 and 259 C; C~DO = -134 ~c = 0.5, chloroform)~
Example 5 3~-Hgdroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-iæo-propyloxazolidine) Step "A"
~y ~ollowing the procedure d~scribed in Example 1, Step "A" but ~tarting ~rom 6.04 g of 3~-hgdro~yandrost-5-ene-17S-~pirooxirane and 17 ml of i~opropylamine, and u~ing o~60 g o$ p-toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst, there are obtained 7.11 g of 17~-isopropylaminomethylandro~t-5-ene-3~-17~-diol. After recrg~tallization ~rom ethyl acetate upon addition of equivalent volume of n-hexane the product melts at 112 to 113 C; [~]D0 = -76,4 (c = 0,5, chloroform).
Step nRn Starting from the product of the abova step "AN and proceeding as described in Example 1, Step "B", ~-ethoxy-carbongl-17~-isopropylaminomenthglandrost-5-ene-3~,17.~-diol i~ obtained whi¢h, after recrgstallization from ethgl acetate, melts at 144 C; C~2D0 = -74 tc = 0,5, chloroform)~
~tep nc"
Ring closure of the above compound carried out a~
do~crlbed in Example 1, ~tep "C" affords the title compound whioh, after reorystallization from ethyl acetate, melts at 222 to 223 a; CO~DO = -117 (C = 0.5, chloroform), - 28 ~ 5 Example 6 3~-Fluoroandrost-5-ene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) Step "A"
To a stirred su~pen~ion of 8,85 g of 3~-fluoroandroet-5-en--17-one ~C, W, Shoppee and G, H, R, Summers: J, Chem, Soc~ 4813 /1957/) and 14,0B g of trime~hylsulfonium iodide in 100 ml Or dry dimethyl formamide over a quarter of an hour 8,50 g of pota~ium tert,butylate are added at 20 C, ~he mixture obtained is stirred for additional 2,5 hour~
and then poured into 1700 ml of ice water, The preeipitated crystal~ are ~iltered off and wa~hed to neutral with water, Upon recrystallization of the crude pro~uct from methanol 7,15 g of pure 3~-fluoroandrost-5-ene-17S-spirooxirane are obtained; m,p, 197 C; [~ = -94 (c = 0.5, ohloroform), Step nBn By following the procedure described in Example 1, Step "A" but starting from 6,10 g of 3~-fluoroandrost-5-e~e-17S-~pirooxirane and 50 ml of liquid methyl amine and using 0,60 g of p-toluenesulronic acid as cataly~t, after recry~tallization ~rom methanol 5,1 g Or 3~-fluoro-17~-methylaminomethglandro~t-5-en--17~-ol are obtained; m~p,:
175 C; ~a]20 ~ -100 ~c . 0,5, chloroform)~, Step "C"
By ~ollowing the procedure described in Example 1, Step "B" but ~tarting from 3~-~luoro-17a-methylaminometh~l-aDdro~t-5-en--17~-ol obtained in the above Step ~B~, the ¢orre~ponding ~-ethoxycarbonyl derivative i~ obtained, ~fter recry~tallization from methanol the product melts at 172 C; [~ 20 ~ -77 ~c 0,5, chloroform), - 29 - ~1156 Step "D"
2.10 g of 3~-fluoro-l~-ethoxycarbonyl-170~-methylamino-methylandrost-5-en--17~-ol prepared a~ described above in Step "C" are treated accordin~ to the proce~s ~et ~orth 5 in ~3xample 1, Step "C" and recrystallized from isopropyl ether to yield 1.79 g of the title compound; m.p. 175 C;
Co~]20 5 -127 (c = 0.5, chloroform).

E~ample 7 Androst-4-en--3-one-17S-spiro-5'-t2'-oxo-3'-allyloxa-zolidine) 2.16 g of ~-etho~ycarbonyl-1713-allylaminomethyla~drost-5-ene-3~,17~-diol prepared as de~cribed in E~ample 4, S~ep "B" are ogidized follotqing the procedure set forth i~
E~ample 3, Step "B" 1.31 g of a crude product are obtained. A~ter recry~tallization from ethyl acetate upon addition of isopropyl ether the yield amounts to 1.0 g.
M,p. 131 to 132 C; r~J20 = +7~2 tc = 0.5, chloroform).

Erample 8 O~lt-4-en--3-One-17S-BpirO-5 ~- (2 ~ -o20-3 '-i~opropyl-oxazolidine) 2.1 g OI ~-ethoxycarbonyl-170t-isopropylaminomethyl-andro~t-5-ene-3J~,17B-diol prepared according to E~ample 5, Step "B" are o~cidized as described in Example 3, Step "Bn.
~he product i~ recrystallized from ethyl acetate upon addition of i~opropyl ether to yield 0,90 g of the title compound. M.p. 177 to 179 C; ~o~]20 z +34 (c = 0.5, chloro~rom).

d~

~ 30 ~ 1 ~15 69 E~ample 9 Androst-4,6-dien-3~one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-methyl-o~azolidine) Method "A"
The miæture o~ 3~15 g o~ andro~t-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro- `
- 5'-(2'-ogo-3'-methylo~azolidine) prepared as described in Example 3 and 13 g o~ chloranil in 44 ml of tert-butanol i8 boiled ~or 3 houra while stirring, ~he reactio~ migture is allowed to cool to room temperature, ~iltered and the ~iltrate evaporat0d, The residue is di~olved in chloro-form, the insoluble substance ~iltered of~ and the chloroform solution e~tracted with ~our 12 ml portions of 5% sodium hydro~ide solution and two 10 ml portions of water, and subsequently dried over magnesium sul~ate.
The extract is concentrated and the residue i~ brought into crystallization with rubbing to yield 2.75 g o~ a crude product. A~ter recry~tallization from ethyl acetate t~ice the product melts at 212 to 213 C; ro~D = -20,3 (c z 0~5, chloroform3, ~ etha~ol = 282 m~

Method "B"
~o a stirred suspension of 7,18 g of androst-5-en-3~-ol-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) prepared as described in E~ample 1 and 0,28 g of powdered dry sodium acetate in 70 ml of dry tetrahydrofurane the mi~ture oi 3,20 g o~ bromine and 10 ml of glacial acetic acid is added dropwi~e, at 10 C, Some minutes a~ter the dissolution of the steroid a yellow precipitate can be ob~erved, After 0~5 hours of stirring the reaction mixture is poured onto 900 ml of ice water, allowed to - 31 ~56~1 sta~d for a short period of time and the precipitate is filtered off with 3uotion. The wet product is taken up in 100 ml of glaoial aeetic acid and the suspension obtained is heated to 60 C. 6.56 g of sodium biohromate having two moles of ¢rystal water in 20 mi of glacial aoid are heated to 80 C and added to the above suspension while stirring. The resulted dark solution i~ stirred at 60 C ~or half an hour, oool~d and poured onto 800 ml of ice ~ater. The precipitated cr~stalliné substance is filtered with suction and washed with water. The 9.5 g of crude dibromoketone obtained are dissolved in lO0 ml of dimethyl~ormamlde, 9.5 g of lithium bromide and 9.5 g of lithium carbonate are added and the mixture is boiled for 1.5 hours while ~tirring. The crude product is poured onto ice water and separated by filtration. Yield (after reory~talllzation from ethyl acetate using charcoal ~or decolouring) 4.32 g. M.p. 212 C; r~32 - -21 (c - 0.5, chloroform).

ExamDle lO
Andro~t-1,4-dien-3-one-17S~spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) 2.18 g Or androst-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) prepared in Example 3 are boiled in 36 ml of dry dioxane ~ith 1.54 g of 2,3-di¢hloro-5,6-dlcyano-1,4-bsnzoquinone for 40 hours. The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature, the precipitate filtered off and the filtrate evaporated. The evaporation residue i~ dis~olved in 70 ml of dichloromethane and extracted with five lO ml portions o~ l~o sodium hydroxide ~a -` - 32 ~ 15691 solution and gub~equently ~ith three 10 ml portions Or water. ~he dichloromethane ~olution is dried, passed through silica gel and evaporated te yield 1.5 g Or a yellow crystalline product. After re¢rystalli2ati~ from ethyl acetate twice 0.~2 g Or a ~ure product are obtained melting at 246 C; ~Q~20 ~= 0 (c = 0.5, ¢hloro~orm);
~eaha~l~- 243 ~u.

~ndrost-1,*,6-trien-3-one-17S-splro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) - The mixture of 4.28 g o~ 3~-hydroxyandrost-5~ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methylo~azolidine) prepared in Ezample 1 and 8.15 g o~ 2,3-dichloro-~,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone in 120 ml Or dioxano ls boiled ~or 80 hours.
The reactlon mixture i8 treated as de~cribed in ~ample 10 except that the dichloromethane solution of the crude proauct i~ pa~sed throueh neutral alumina. The produ¢t i8 recrystallized ~rom ethyl acetate to give 0.90 g o~
the title compound, melting at 223 to 224 C; ~ ~ 5 -44 (c = 0.5, chloroform); Aeahanl- 298 ~ , 255 T~ 221 ~ , Exam~le 12 13~-Ethyl-1-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-dlene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolldlne) Method n,~n Step nAn To a stlrred suspenslon o~ 44.0 g Or 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-dien-17-one and 118.8 g of trlmethyl-~,~

- 33 - 1~15691 ~ul~onium iodide in 660 ml o~ dry dimethylformamide there are added 137.2 g of potassium~tert-butylate over half an hour at 22 C, Stirring i~ continued for 2 hours, ~he reactio~ mixture i~ ~hen pou~ed onto ice water and the precipitated white cry~talline product is filtered off and washed ~ith water~ The crude pro~uct is dried, boiled with two-fold volume of methanol and filtered while hot, 43.1 g of 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-~piro-o~irane melting at 183 C are obtained, To prepare a compouDd of analytical grade about 1 g of the crude product i9 recry~tallized from 30-fold volume of ethyl acetate; m,p, 187 to 189 C;~ 20 = +106 (c = 0,5, chloro~or~), Step n~n Pollowing the procedure described in Example 1, Step "A" but Etarting from 30 g of 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spirooxirane prepared above and 90 ml o~ liquid methylamine ~nd u~ing 3 g of ~-toluene-~ulfoDic acid a~ catalyst, 26 g o~ 13~-ethyl-3-metho~y-170~methylamiDomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17~-ol are obtai~ed, Por analytical purposes about 1 g of the crude product recry~tallized from ethyl acetate to yield a product meltlng at 188 to 189 C; ~]20 = ~67 (c = 0,5, chloro~rom), Step ~cn 13.5 g o~ 13~-ethyl-3-methogy-17~-methylaminomethyl-gonadie~-17~-ol obtained in the above Step "B" are reacted with pyrocarbonic acid diethyl ester as de~cribed in Example 1, Step ~B". ~he obtained product is recrystallized irom methanol to yield N-etho$ycarbonyl-13~-ethyl-3-methoxy-- 34 - 1~1S69~

170~-methylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)dien-17k~-ol, Yield 11,0 g;
m.p, 137 C; ~o~]20 = ~25 ~c ~ 0,5, chlorofo~
Step "D"
~he solution o$ 1,04 g o~ N-ethox~ycarbonyl-l~-eth;srl-3-1nethoxy-17O~-methylaminomethylgona-2,5~10)-dien-17~-ol in 15 ml of ethanol containing 0,50 g of pota~ium hydroxide is boiled for one~hour, ~he reaction mixture i8 treated ac¢ording to the E~cample 1, Ste p "C" and the obtained product i8 rec-ry~tallized from et~l acetate to yield o,60 g Or 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-methylo~azolidine), Il[,p, 207 C; C~32D = +17 ~c ~ 0,5, chloroform), Method "B"
0,94 gof 13P~-ethyl-3-metho~ygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spirooxirane prepared accord~ng to the Brample 12, Step "A" and 4.2 g of N-met~yl-urethane are sti~red for three hour~ at 130 C, in the preseDce of 0.3`5 g of potassium-tert-butylate. The reaction misture i~ poured onto water - and the pre¢ipitated crystalline ~ubstance filtered with suction and subsequently washed. The produet is re¢r~tallized ~ from eth~rl acetate. Yield: 0.60 g; m.p, 206 to 207 C;
S Go~12 +16.7 (¢ - 0.5, ¢hloroform), ll5ethod ~ cn 18,5 g of 13J~-ethyl-3-methoxy-170~methylaminomethyl-gona-2,5~10)-dlen-17~-ol in 190 ml of drs~ diethyl carbonate are stirred for three houra at 160 C, in the presen¢e Or 6,0 g of potassium-tert-butylate. The reaction mi~cture i~ evaporated and the residue taken up in water, ~he re~ulted ¢rystalline product ls filtered with suction and wa~hed with water to yield crude 13~3-ethyl-3-methoxygona-- 35 ~ 15691 2,5~10)-die~e-17S-~piro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine), After reorystallization from ethyl acetate 15.0 g of a pure product melting at 207 to 208 C are obtained;
~20 = +17.6 (c = 0.5, chloroform), The product doe~ not ~how any de¢rea6e in melti~g point when sdmixed with the product~ of Example 12, ~ethods ~A" and "B", ExamPle 13 13A-Ethyl-3-mathoxygona-2,5~10)-a~ene-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-ethyloxazolidine) Step "A"
~y followi~g essentially the procedure described in E~ample 12, Method "A", Step "B" 13~-ethyl-3-methoxy-17~-ethylaminomethylgona-2,5~10)-dien--17~-ol melting at 186 C
is obtained; Co~20 = +60 (c = 0O5~ chloroform), Step "B"

6~15 g of 13~-ethyl-3-methogy-17~-ethyl~minomethyl-gona-2,5(10)-dien--17~-ol are treated as described in Example 12, Method "C" a~d the crude product obtained is recrystallized frsm ethyl acetate and subsequently ~rom methanol to yield 4,37 g of 13~-ethy1-3-methoæygona-,,.~. .
2,5~10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-ethylo~azolidine); m,p.
161 C; ~ ~ 20 = ~16 tc _ 0,5, chloroform).

~xample 14 13~-Bthyl-3-metho~ygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5~_ ~2'-oxo-3'-/1''-ci~-propenyl/- oxazolidine) Step "A"
~y following the procedure described in Example 12, M~thod "A", Step "B" but using allylamine in the reaction, - 36 - 1~156~31 13~-ethyl-3-methoxy-17~-allylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17~-ol melting at 154 C i~ obtained; ~D0 = +51 tc = 0.5, chloroform).
Step l`B'l By ~ollowing the procedure described in E~ample 12, Method "C" but starting from 12,0 g o~ 13~-ethyl-3-methoxy-17~-allylaminomethylgona-2,5tlO)-dien-17~-ol in 120 ml of diethyl carbonate a~d 3.63 g~of potas~ium-tert-butylate, 9.3 g of 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'- ~2'-oxo-3'-(1''-cis-propenyl)-ozazolidin~
are obtained melting a~ter recrystallization ~rom ethyl acetate at 143 C; [~D0 = -18 ~c = 0.5, chloroform).
Example 15 13~-Ethyl-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) 4.0 g o~ 13~-ethy1-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo~3'-methylo~azolidine~ prepared as described in Example 12 are stirred in the mixture of 40 ml of methanol, 4 ml of water and 2 ml of conoentrated hydrochloric acid for one hour, at 60 C. ~he reaction mixture is evaporated, and the residue i8 taken up in ~,.
water, The crystalline ~ub~tance i~ filtered with suction, dried and recrystallized ~rom ethyl acetate. 2,5 g of the pure title compound are obtained with a melting point ~ 1~2 C;~G~365 = -414 (c - 0,5, chloroform).
ExamPle 16 l~-Ethylgon-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-ethyloxazolidine) Starting from the compound of Example 13 and following ~a - _ 37 _ 1~15691 the procedure described in Exsmple 15 the title compound i9 obtained. M.p. 168 C; C~]20 = -4~9 (c = 0,5, chloroform).

ExamPle 17 13~-Ethylgon-5(10)-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-t2'-oxo-3'-methylo2azolidine) The mixture of 4.2 g of malonic acid, 70 ml of water and 170 ml of ethanol i~ heated up to 70 C and the suspension of 7.4 g of 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5~10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(~'-oxo-3'-me~hyloxazolidine) prepared as described in ~xample 12 in 80 ml of ethanol is added while ~tirring. In several minutes a solution i8 obtained which is then kept at 70 C ~or further 20 minutes. 200 ml of ~aturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and subsequently 400 ml of water are added drop~ ~e to the ~olution under ice cooling~ ~he precipitate ~ormed is filtered a~d washed with water to yield 6.8 g of the title compound melting at 162 to 166 G. An analytical sample of about 1 g iB di~sol~ed in cold acetone, isopropyl ether i~ added and the mi~ture is cooled. The precipitated cry~tals are ~iltered with suction. ~he obtained product melts at 167 C; ~a]20 = ~51 (c = chloroform).

amPle 18 13~-Ethylgona-4,9(10)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-~-oxo-3'-methylo2azolidine) To a stirred solution of 11.1 g of 13~-ethylgona-5(10)-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-t2'-o2o-3'-methylogazolidin2) prepared in Example 17 in 50 ml of dry pyridine a solution oi 10,0 g of pyridinium perbromide in 50 ml of pyridine i~

_ 38 ~ 56~

added dropwise, over 40 minutes at 20 C. The reaction mixture i~ then ~tirred Ior 3.5 hours at room temperature and ~ubsequently poured onto one liter of watar, ~he oily substance crystalli~es upon Rcratching. Recrystallization 5 of 8~38 g of the crude title compound from ethyl acetate yield~ 6.3 g of pure com~pound. M.p, 165 to 167 C;
C ]D 265 ~c = 0.5, chlorofo~ ethanol 301 Example 19 13)~-Ethyl-3-metho~ygona-1,3,5(10)-triene-17S -spiro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-methy loxazolidine) Starting from L,78 g of 13B-ethyl-3-metho~ygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-ogo-3'-methylo~ azolidine) prepared according to E~ample 12 the procedure described in E~cample 18 i8 followed. Recrystallization of the crude product îrom ethyl acetate gi~es 1.19 g of the pure titel compound melting at 197 to 198 C, ~]20 = -29 (c - 0,5, hlorofrom); ~ etl~anol = 276 m/U 284 m/l~.

E~ample 20 13)3-Ethylgona-4,9(10), 11-trien-3-one-17S-spiro~
~2'-ogo-3'-methyloxazolidine) ~o a stirred ~olution of 3,55 g of 13,B-ethylgona-4,9 (10)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-ogo-3'-methylogazolidine) prepared according to ~ample 18 in 35 ml o~ dry ethanol 0~85 g o~ pyrrolidine are added at room temperature under nitrogen atmo~phere. A~ter one hour of stirring precipita-tion of a yellow cry~talline substance can be observed~
A~ter 4 hour~ the suspension is cooled on an icy ~ater bath, the yellow enamino compound i~ ~iltered with suction and ~ubsequently wa~hed with icy cool methanol, _ 39 ~ 5 ~ ~ 1 2.65 g o~ the enamino compound are obtained.
To a stirred ~u~pension of the above enamino com-pound with 5 ml o~ methanol and 2.5 ml o~ water there are added 1.20 ml of acetic a¢id under nitrogen atmosphere, at 20 C. A~ter two hours of ~tirr~ng a ~urther 25 ml portion o~ water is added and stirring is continued for ~urther 12 hours, The reaction miæture is diluted with further 100 ml o~ water, the precipitate i~ filtered o~f and wa~hed with water, The obtained crude 13~-ethylgona-5(10),9(11)-dien-3-one-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is dried, dis~olved in acetone at room temperature, decoloured with charcoal, ~oncentrated to 1/4 of its original volume and finally diluted with isopropyl ether. The precipitated 1.40 g o~ 13~-ethglgona-5(10),9(11)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oæo-3'-methyloæazolidine) melts at 174 to 176 C.
~o the ~olution o~ 0,49 g o~ thi~ compound in lQ ~l~ of dry dioxa~e the ~olution of 0,62 g o~ 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyane-1,4-benzoquinone in 14 ml of dioxane is added under nitrogen atmosphere~ ~he reaction mixture is ~tirred for 2 hour~ in darkne~. then ~iltered, and the dioæane filtrate i~ evaporated. The re~idue is dissol~ed in di-¢hloromethane and the ~olution i~ extracted with 1% aqueous ~odium hydroæide ~olution and ~ub~equently with water, After drying and evaporating the extract a yellow oily ~ub~tance is obtained which recry~tallize~ upon trituration with i~opropyl ether. 0.34 g o~ crude 13~-ethylgona-4,9(10),11-trien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oæo-3'-methyloæa-zolidine) are obtained which melts after recrystallization from ethyl acetate at 225 to 226 C; [~]20 = -88 (c c 0.5, chloro~orm); ~ ethanol 335 m u 235 m u a~3 - 40~ .15691 xample 21 13,~-Ethylgona-4,6-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5t (2'-oxo-3'-methy lo~azolidine) 1 g of 13~-ethylgQna-4-e~-3-one-17S-spiro-5~-(2'-oxo-5 3'-methyloxazolidin~) is di~sol~red in 20 ml of dry dioxa~e, 1 ml o~ orthoformic acid ethyl e~ter and 0~1 ml OI a ~olution prepared from 0~35 ml o~ concentrated sulfuric acid and 7 ml of dry dioxane are then added to the ~olution which is ~tirred for one hour at room tempera-10 ture. Two drops o~ pyridine are added and the mixture i~poured to 200 ml of icy water. ~he preGipitate Iormed i~
filtered off, washed with Yvater and di~solved while wet in 7~3 ml of acetone. 0.39 go o~ chloranil are added and the solution i8 ~tirred at room temperature ~or 1.5 15 hours in darkness. It i8 then evaporated and the evaporation residue dissolved in 20 ml of dichloromethsne. ~he dichloromethane ~olution is dried, pa~ed through neutral alumina and e~aporated. Upon recry~tallizatio~ of the evaporation re~idue ~rom ethyl acetate 0.17 g of a pure product are obtained. M.p. 267 to 268 C; [~]20 = -92 (c ~ 0.5, chloroform); ~ ethanol 282 ~.
E~cample 22 13)~-Ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxoo~azolidine) The mixture of 0.94 g of 13B-ethy1-3-methoæygona-2,5~10)-diene-17S-~pirooxirane obtained i~ E~ample 12, Method "A", Step "A", 3.60 g of urethane and 0.70 g o~
pota~sium tert-butylste in 6 ml of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide i8 stirred at 150 C îor 16 hour~. ~he - - 41 1~15691 reaction mixture i~ poured onto water and the precipitated crystalline product filtered with suction and subsequently washed with water. Recrystallization of the product from methanol, uæing charcoal for decolouring, give~
0.45 g of the title compound. M.p. 244 to 245 C;
~o~J2 = +30 (c ~ 0~5, chloro~orm).

E~amPle 23 13J3-Ethylgon-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-o~azslidine) 4.0 g of 13~-ethyl-3-metho:s:ygona-2,5(10)-diene-17~-spiro-5'-(2'-oxooxazolidine) prepared as described in Ecample 22 are hydrolysed according to the proce S8 set forth in ~ample 15. Recry~tallization of the 3.45 g of crude product from ethanol CoDtaining 35% water and ~ubsequently ~rom a 1:1 mixture of ethanol and ethyl acetate yields the title ~ubstance melting at 188 C. [o~J20 = ~15 (c = 0.5, chloroform).

;E~cample 24 3-Methoxyoeetra-1,3,5~10),9(11)-tetraene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~:o-3'-methy loxazolidine) Step "A"
:~y following the procedure described in E~ample 12, Method "~4", Step "A't, but ~tarting from 3-methoxyoestra-1,3,5(10),9 (11)-tetraen-17-one, 3-methoxyoestra-1,3,5(10), 9(11)-tetraene-17S-~pirooxirane melting after recrystalliza-tion from methanol at 142 C is obtained; ~<-~D0 = +126 (c z 1, chloroform), ....
" ,~

_ 42 - 1~.15~

Step "B"
By follo~,ving the procedure de~cribed in Eeample 12, Method "A", Step nB" ~rom 4.80 g of the above 3-methoxy-oe~tra-1,3,5~10),9(11)-tetraene-17S-spirooxirane 3.0 g of 3-methoxy-170~-methylaminomethyloestra-1~3,5(10),9(11)-tetraen-17~3-ol melting at 134 to 135 C are obtained;
[o~]20 = +90 ~c = 0.5, chloro~orm).
Ste p "C"
By following the procedure described in Example 1, Step "B" but starting ~rom 3.0 g OI 3-methoxy-17c~-methyl-aminomethy loestra-1,3,5~10),9 (11)-tetraen-1713-ol prepared above, the corresponding N-carbetho~cy derivative i~ pre-pared. The crude product i~ transformed into the corresponding spiro compound in ethanol in the way described in 13~:ample 1, Step "C". The product is re-crystallized from methanol to ~ield 2~21 g of the title compound melting at 187 C; C~20 = +10 (c = 0,5, chloroform), ExamPle 25 3-Mstho~cyoeatra-2,5tlO)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-methyloxazolidine) Ste p nAn ~y following the procedure described in l~ample 12, Method "A", Step ":E3" but starting from 13.0 g of 3-methoxyoestra-2,5(10)-diene-17~-spirooxirane a crude product i~ obtained which i~ then recrystallized from methanol to yield 10.1 g of 3-metho~y-17~-methylamino-methyloestra-2,5~10)-dien-17~-ol, M.p. 136 to 137 C;
~CX]D ~ +87 (c = 0.5, chloroform).
dYi - 43 - 111S6~1 Step "B"
12,0 g of 3-methoxy-17~-methylaminomethyloe~tra-2,5(10)-die~-17~-ol in 120 ml o~ dry diethyl carbonate, in the prese~ce of 6.0 g of pota~sium tert-butylste are stirred at 130 C for 2 hour~, The reaction mixture i~
evaporated and the residue taken up in water, filtered and washed to neutral with water~ Recrystallization from ethvl acetate yield~ 9,35 g o~ pure titl~ compound melting at 177 C; ~]20 = ~20,8 (c = 0.5, chloroform), E~amPle 26 Oeetr.-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) 8~7 g of 3-methoxyoe~tra-2,5tlO)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) prepared in the way described in 3~ample 25 are hydrolysed as described in Example 15, Recry~tallization of the crude product from ethyl acetate re~ults in the pure title compound which melt~ at 187 C.
Over that temperature the crystals are rearranged and melt at 197 to 198 C, C~2DO = -10 ~c = 0.5, chloroform), ~ .
amPle 27 Oestr-5~10)-en-3-one-17S-gpiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) 4,6 g of 3-methogyoestra-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-0~0-3'-methyloxazolidine) prepared in the way described in Example 25 are hydrolysed as described in Example 17 whereby 3,24 g of the title compound are obtained. An analytical sa~ple of about 1 g is recrystallized as ~et ~orth in Example 17 to giVB a pure product melting at ,~

_ ~4 _ 11156~1 160 to 162 C; [~]20 = +68 (c = 0.5, ¢hloroform).
Example 28 Oestr-4,g(10)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-31-methvlo~aæolidine) 2,79 g of the product of E~ample 27 are treated a~
described in Example 18~ Recrystallization of the obtained crude product ~rom ethyl acetate yield 8 1.68 g of the title compound melting at 172 to 173 C; ~]20 = -267 ~c = 0.5, chloroform); leaXha~l = 301 m~u.

Example 29 3-Methoxyoestra-2,5~10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~ooxazolidine) The mixture o~ 4.26 g of 3-methoxyoe~tra-2,5(10)-dlene-17S-spiroo~irane and 17 g o~ urethane in 28 ml o~
hexamethlypho~phoric tiramide i5 stirred in the presence of 1,68 g of potassium tert-butylate, under nitrogen atmo~phere, at 150 C for 6 hours. The reaction mi~ture is poured onto water and the separating oily substance is extracted with ethyl aoetate. The ethyl acetate phase îs washed with water, dried and subsequently evaporated~ The cry~talline residue i~ washed with isopropyl ether on the ~,........................................................................ .
~4 iilter and recrystallized from methanol. 2.15 g of the titl~ compound melting at 231 C are obtained; ~o~20 = +300 ~o ~ 0,5, chloro~orm), ~a~
Oestr-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxoo~azolidine) 1,70 g of 3-metho~yoestra-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxoo~azolidine) prepared in the way described in Example 29 are hydroly~ed as described in Example 15.

_ 45 ~ S691 R2crystallization of the obtained crude product from ethanol yield~ 0.90 g of the title compound melting at 243 to 244 C; ~o(]2D0 = ~699 (c = 0.5, chloro~orm).

E~ample 31 Oe~tr-4,6-dien-3~one-17-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) ~o a stirred ~uspen~ion of 2.13 g of oe~tr-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'- ~2'-o~o-3'-methylo~azolidine~ prepared in the way de~cribed in ~ample 26 and 2.6 ml o E orthoiormic acid ethyl ester in 17 ml of dry ethanol there are added 4 drop~ oi the solution of 0.35 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid in 4 ml o~ dry dioxane at 5 CJ Stirring iæ
continued at 18 to 20 C. Aiter some minutes oi ~tirring a clear solution i~ obtained. After 2.5 hour~ oi reaction the solution is poured into 250 ml of an icy 10% aqueous pota~sium carbonate ~olution. After a short stirring period the precipitate i~ filtered and washed with water.
~e wet substance i8 added into 30 ml of acetone containing 1.53 g of chloranil and 5% oî water while stirring, and stirring i~ continued for îurther 15 hour~ in darkness.
he reaction mi~ ture is filtered, evaporated at room temperature, the residue dissolved in dichloromethane and the 301ution passed through a neutral alumina layer.
Evaporation oi the solution gives 1.2 g of a yellow crude product which is then recrystallized from ethyl acatate.
~1. P. 228 C; C~2D0 = -85 (c = O.5 9 chloroform);
;~ ethanol = 281 m/u .... ..

_ 46 - 1~15691 ~ample 32 3J3-H~ydroxy-5~,19-cycloandrost-6-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~ o-3'-meth~loxazolidine) Step "A"
To the ~uspension OI 5.45 g of 3~-acetoxy-5~,19-cycloandrost-6-en-17-one (0. Halpern et al,: Steroids 4, /1964/) and 6.8 g o~ trimethyl~ulfonium iodide in 53 ml o~ dry dimethyl ~orma~ide there are added 5.6 g of potas~ium tert-butylate at 10 a, 1n about 10 minutes~ ~he m~gture i~ stirred for further 15 minutes and thereaîter poured onto icy water, ~he precipitated substance is filtered off, wa~hed to neutral with water and dried. Recryætallization from ethyl acetate yields 2.47 g of 3J3~hydroxy-5~,19-cy¢loandro~t-6-ene-17S-spirooxirane melting at 180 to 181 ~, L~J20 = -15.7 ~c = 0.5, chloroform).
Step "B"
By following the procedure described in Example 1, Step "A" but ~tarting ~rom 2,47 g of 3~-hydrogy-513,19-cycloandrost-6-ene-17S-~pirooxirane, 313,1713-dihydro~y-170~-methylaminomethyl-5~,19-cycloandorst-6-ene is obtained.
~he crude product i~ recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give 1.88 g of a pure product melting at 198 to 199 C;
[~]D0 = ~43 (c = 0.5, chloroform).
Step "C"
1.80 g of 3~,17~-dihydro~y-170~-methylaminomethyl-5 ,19-cycloandro~t-6-ene as prepared in Step "B" are tran~formed into the corresponding ~-ethoxycarbonyl compou~d following the procedure set forth in Example 1, Step "Bn, and aIter i~olation the crude product i~ trans~ormed into 3B-hydroxy-5)3,19-cycloandrost-6-ene-17S-spiro-5~-(2~-ogo-3~-d!a - 47 - 1~15~

methyloxazolidina) a~ described in E~ample 1, Step "Cn, Recry~tallization o~ the crude product from ethyl acetate yields 1~17 g of a pure product melting at 228 to 229 C.
C~DO - -79 ~C = 1, chloroform).

~am Ple 33 3-Oxo-5~,19-cycloandrost-6 ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-ogo-3'-methyloxazolidine) To the stirred suspension o~ 5,30 g of chromium tri-oæide-pyridine complex (J. C. Collin~ et al.: Tetrahedron ~ett., 3363 /1968/) in 80 ml of dry dichloromethane the solution of 0.85 g of 3~-hydrocy-5~,19-cycloandro~t-6-ene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-o~ o-3'-methyloxazolidine) prepared according to E~ample 32, in 18 ml of dry dichloromethane is added dropwi~e at room temperature. ~he reaction mixture is ~tirred for 20 hours and subsequently filtered off. ~he dichloromethane solution i8 shaken with water, dried and pa~ed through a neutral alumina lay er. ~he solution is evaporated and the dry residue obtained is recry~tallized ~rom ethyl acetate to yield 0.50 g of the pure title compound. M.p. 164 C; L-~]20 - -46.5 (c _ 0,5, chloroform).

E~ample 34 31~-Hydrocyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'- (2'-oxooxazolidine) 'rhe suspension of 3.02 g o~ 3l3-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spirooxirane, 4.50 g o~ urethane and 0.60 g o~ sodium methylate in 15 ml o~ ha~camethylphosphoric triamide i~
stirred under nitrogen atmosphere at 140 C for 16 hours.
q~he reaction mixture is then poured onto 230 ml of icy ,., - 48- l~lS6~1 water, the precipitate filtered off with suction and thoroughly washed with water, Recrystallization of the dry sub~tance from methanol yields 1,25 g o~ the pure title compound melting at 325 to 327 C; ~o~]20 = -95 ~c = 0,5, 5 methanol).

~ample 35 Ent, 13,~-ethylgona-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) Step "An 13y ~ollowing the procedure de~cribed in E~ample 12, Method "A", Step "A", but starting from e~t, 13~-ethyl-~-metho~cygona-2,5(10)-dien-17-one, there i9 obtained ent, 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5~10)-diene-17S-spirooxirane, 1~,p, 184 C; Co~120 = -109 ~c = 0,5, chloroform), Step "B"
Ent, 13,~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5~10)-diene-17S-~piro-oæirane obtained in Step "A" above i~ reacted with methyl-amine a~ de~cribed in E~ample 12, Method "A", Step " 3"
and the cbtained product i8 subsequently transformed into the corre~ponding N-etho~cycarbonyl derivative $ollowing the procedure ~et forth in E~cample 12, Method "A", Step "C", ~ransformation o$ this compound according to E~ample 12, Method "A", Step "D" a$$ord~ ent, 13~S-ethyl-3-metho~y-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'-t2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) melting at 208 C~ ~o<]2D0 = -19 (c = 0.5, chloroform), Step ncn E~t, 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'- ~2'-oxo-3 7 -methyloxazolidine) is hydrolysed with hydrochloric acid in an aqueou~ methanolic solution as r~

- 49~ S6~1 described in E~cample 15 whereby ent. 13)3-ethylgon-4-en-3-one-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine ) melting at 191 ~ is obtaîned;Lc~]365 = +413 (c = 0,5, chloroform), E~ample 36 13,~-Ethyl-3-o2~iminogo~-4-e~Qe-17S-spiro-5'- (2'-oxo-3'-methylo~a~olidine) Method "A"
The solution o~ O.9û g o~ 13~-ethylgon-4-en-3-o~3e-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-methylo2azolidine) prepared according to E~cample 15, 0.20 g of hydro~ylamine chlorohydrate and 0,25 g oî dry sodium acetate in the mix~ure of 3 ml of water and 20 ml of ethanol is boiled at a water bath for one hour. ~he reaction mi~ ture is evaporated, the crystalline residue washed, dried and recry~tallized from methanol to yield 0.50 g o~ a product melting at 284 to 286 C; C~DO = +86 (c = 0.5, chloroform).
I~ethod "B"
~he solution of 1 g of 13,B-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5~10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-o~o-3'-methylo~azolidi~e) and 20 1 g of hydro~ylamine chlorohydrate in 10 ml of dry pyridine iB ~tirred at 50 a for 0. 5 hours and at 80 C for further 4 hours. The reaction mixture is evaporated~ ~he residue i~ disaolved in chloro~orm and the solution is subsequently shaken with a 2~5~o aqueou~ hydrochloric acid solution, 25 then with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and finally with water. The chloro~orm solution is dried and evaporated~ Recrystallization oî the crystalline re~idue from methanol yields 0~50 g of 13P~-ethyl-3-o~iminogon-4-ene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) melting at 283 C;

,;~

- 50 ~ 6 rO~20 = ~70 (c = 0.5, chloro~orm).
~ he oximes prepared according to the above ~Iethods "A" and "3" are migtures o~ the Z and E isomers o~ di~ferent ratios~

.
13~-Ethyl-3-metho~yiminogon-4-ene-17S-spiro-53-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) ~y ~ollowing the procedure described in Example 36, Method "A" but using O-methylhydroxylami~e chlorohydrate and continuing the reaction ~or 5 hours the title compound is obtained which melts, a~ter recrystallization ~rom et'nyl acetate, at 180 to 182 C; t~20 = ~85 (c - 0,5, chlorofo~m)~

xample 38 13,5-Ethyl-3-allyloximinogon-4-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methylo,xazolidine) By following the proceclure set ~orth in Example 36, Method "A" but using O-allylhydroxylamine chlorohydrate the title compound is obtained; m.~p. (a~ter recrystallizatio~
.r~"` ~rom methanol) 163 to 165 C; [o32~ = ~73 ~c = 0.5, chloroform).

~ .
Oestr-4-en-3-one-17~-spiro-5~-(2 9 -o~o-3'-~t~h~l-o~a~olidi~e) Step l'As' 1~88 g o~ 3-methoxyoe~tr~-2,5~10~-diene-17S~æpiro-5'-(2'-oxooxazolidine) prepared accordi~g to Eæample 29 are dissolved in the mixture of 20 ml o~ dry tetrahydro~urane and 40 ml o~ dry benzene~ 0~33 g o~ sodium hydride - 51- 1~156~1 containing 20% of paraffine are added to the ~olution while stirring. ~he temperature of the reaction mixture is kept at room temperature by the aid o~ a water bath.
Aîter about half an hour the sparkling ceases; then 15 ml of ethyl iodide are added and the mixture is boiled for 20 hours while stirring. Thereafter, 5 ml of ethanol are added to the reaction mixture, which is then evaporated to dryne~s. The crystalline re~idue is washed to neutral on the filter, dried, and recrystallized from ethyl aoetate to yield L34 g of 3-methoxyoestra-2,5~10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-ethyloxazolidine) melting at 178 C;
[~3D0 = +18,7 (c = 0.5, chloroform).
Step "E3"
Hydrolysis of the 3-methoxyoestra-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-t2'-oxo-3'-ethylo~azolidine) is performed as described in Example 15 and the oestr-~-en-3-one-17$-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-ethy loxazolidine) obtained is recry stallized from ethyl acetate. lla~p. 147 ~; [~]D0 = -17 ~c = 0.5, chloroform).

ample 40 13ff-Ethy 1-3-methoxygona-2,5~10)-diene-17S-~piro-5~- (2'-oxo-3'-dimethylphosphino~methyloxazolidina) 0.85 g o~ 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'-(2'-o~cooxazolidine) prepared in the way as de~cribed in E~{ample 22 are di~solved in 50 ml of dry tetrahydroîurane. 0918 g of sodium hydride containing 20~o of paraffine are then added to the solution at room tem-parature, while stirring. After about 0~5 hours the sparkl-ing cea~e~. ~hen 0.60 g of` dimethylphosphinoxymethyl .~

- 52 - 1 ~ 15 6~ i chloride are added and the reaction mixture i~ stirred at room t~mperature Por 24 hour~ and boiled for further 10 hour~ The reaction mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature, a further 0.18 g portion of sodium hydride containing 20~o 0~ paraffine is added followed a~ter 0~5 hour~ by the addition o~ 0.60 g of dimethyl-~phosphinoximethyl chloride~ The boiling i9 continued for further 5 hours. Excess sodium hydride i~ decompo~ed by the addition of ethanol a~d the mixture i~ evaporated~
The re~idue i~ dissolved in water and ethyl acetate, the ethyl acetate pha~e iæ wa~hed with water, dried and evaporated. ~o the oily residue methanol is added and the crystalline product obtained i~ filtered and re-crystallized from ethyl acetate to yield 0.50 g of 13~-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-~piro-5'-~2'-oxo-3'-dimethylpho~phinoxymethyloxazolidine) melting at 110 to 112 a. [~]DO = 0 (c = 0.5, chloro~orm).
~ollowing this procedure but starting ~rom 130-ethylgon-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-~2'-oxooxazolidine) prepared in Exsmple 23 9 13~-ethylgon-4-en-3-one-17S-~piro-5'-t2'-oxo-3'-dimethylpho~phinoxymethyloæazolidine) is obtained.
~, Example 41 Tablets weighing about 200 mg each and having the following compo~ition are prepared:

- 53 - lllS~

13~-Ethylgon-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5 ' - (2 ' -oxo-3 ' -me thy lo:s~azo lidine ) ~micronized) 25 mg Corn starch 128 mg Polyethylene glycol - 6000 40 mg ~alc 6 mg ll~agne~ium ~tearate ~;
200 mg ~he table1;s are coated with a film or sugar.

;,,

Claims (51)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A process for preparing a compound of the general formula I

( I ) wherein Rl is alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms or dialkylphosphinglmethyl having in the alkyl moiety from 1 to 3 carbon atoms each, Z is one of the groups represented by the general formulae III to XIV

(III) (IV) (V) (VI) (VII) ( VI I I ) (IX) (X) (XI) (XII) (XIII) wherein R3 is hydrogen or methyl, R4 is fluorine, hydroxyl, acyloxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyloxy having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, oxo, oximino or alkoximino having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R5 is oxo, oximino or alkoximino having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R6 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, with the proviso that if Rl is methyl and Z represents a group of the general formula XII, wherein R6 is methyl, then R2 is different from hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a stereoisomer thereof, which process comprises (a) subjecting a compound of formula II

(II) wherein Rl and Z are as defined above and Y is a group of formula XV

(XV) wherein R2 is as defined above and R7 is hydrogen or an alkoxycarbonyl group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, to ring closure in the presence of a base, with the proviso that when R7 is hydrogen there is also present a carbonic acid de-rivative which participates in formation of an oxazolidine ring; or (b) subjecting a compound of formula II above wherein Rl and Z are as defined above and Y is a group of formula XVI

(XVI) to ring closure in the presence of a base and a carbonic acid derivative which participates in formation of an oxazolidine ring;
and, if required, transforming the obtained compound of formula I into another compound of formula I.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a ketone.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the base is an alkali metal hydroxide or alkoxide.

4. A process according according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the carbonic acid derivative is a lower diaIkyl carbonate, an aIkyl ester of chlorocarbonic acid, phosgene, a carbamate or urethane, an aIkyl or alkenyl isocyanate or a urea.

5. A process according to claim 1, which comprises transforming a compound of the general formula I into another compound of the general formula I by oxida-tion, halogenation and subsequent dehydrohalogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrolysis, aIkylation or by transforming the 3-oxo group or its enol ether into an oximino or alkoximino group.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein a compound of formula II in which R1 is as defined in claim 1, Z is of formula III or XIV wherein R3 is methyl and R4 is hydroxyl and Y is of formula XV wherein R2 is as defined in claim 1 and R7 is an alkoxycarbonyl group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms is reacted with a ketone in the presence of aluminium alkoxide to form a compound of formula I
in which Z is a group of formula IV and XIV wherein R3 is methyl and R4 or R5 is oxo and Rl and R2 are as defined in claim 1.

7. A compound of formula I as defined in claim 1 when prepared by a pro-cess according to claim 1 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula III, R1, R2 and R3 are methyl groups and R4 is a hydroxyl group.

9. A process for preparing 3B-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting N-ethoxycarbanyl-17a-methylamino-methyl-androst-5-ene-3B,17B-diol with sodium ethylate or with potassium hydroxide dissolved in ethanol.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the N-ethoxycarbonyl-17a-methylaminomethyl-androst-5-ene-3B,17B-diol is obtained by reacting androst-5-en-3B-ol-17S-spirooxirane with methylamine and p-toluene-sulfonic acid to form 17a-methylaminomethyl-androst-5-ene-3B,17B-diol, followed by reaction with diethyl pyrocarbonate to prepare the required N-ethoxycarbonyl compound.

11. The compound 3.beta.-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 9 or 10 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula III, R1, R2 and R3 are methyl groups and R4 is an ethoxycarbonyloxy group.

13. A process for preparing 3.beta.-ethoxycarbonyloxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting 17.alpha.-methyl-aminomethylandrost-5-ene-3B,17.beta.-diol with diethyl carbonate and potassium-tert-butylate.

14. The compound 3.beta.-ethoxycarbonyloxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 13 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

15. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula IV, R1, R2 and R3 are methyl groups and R5 is an oxo group.

16. A process for preparing androst-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) which comprises reacting 3.beta.-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine with aluminium isopropylate and cyclo-hexanone.

17. A process according to claim 16 wherein the 3.beta.-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) is prepared by a process according to claim 9 or 10.

18. A process for preparing androst-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine which comprises reacting N-ethoxycarbonyl-17.alpha.-methylaminomethylandrost-5-ene-3.beta.,17.beta.-diol with aluminium isopropylate and cyclohexanone.

19. A process according to claim 18 wherein the N-ethoxycarbonyl-17.alpha.-methylaminomethyl-androst-5-ene-3B,17Bdiol is obtained by reacting androst-5-en-3B-ol-17S-spirooxirane with methylamine and p-toluene-sulfonic acid to form 17.alpha.-methylaminomethyl-androst-5-ene-3B,17B-diol, followed by reaction with diethyl pyrocarbonate to prepare the required N-ethoxycarbonyl compound.

20. The oompound androst-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 18 or 19 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

21. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula V, Rl, R2 and R3 are methyl groups and R5 is an oxo group.

22. A process for preparing androst-4,6-diene-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2l-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting androst-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) with chloranil.

23. A process according to claim 22 wherein the androst-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is obtained by a process according to cla~m 18 or 19.

24. A process for preparing androst-4,6-diene-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyJoxazolidine) which comprises reacting androst-5-en-3B-ol-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) with bromine and glacial acetic acid to form the correspanding 5,6-dibromo-compound, oxidizing the 5,6-dibromo-compound with sodium bichromate in glacial aoetic acid to form the corresponding 3-oxo-5,6-dibromo-oompound and reacting this compound with lithium bromide and lithium carbonate in dimethyl formamide to abtain the required compound.

25. A process according to claim 24 wherein the androst-5-en-3B-ol-17s-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by a process according to claim 9 or 10.

26. The compound androst-4,6-diene-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyl-oxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 22 or 24 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

27. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula X, Rl is an ethyl group, R2 is a cis-propenyl group, and R6 is a methyl group.

28. A process for preparing 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-{2'-oxo-3'-(1"-cis-propenyl)-oxazolidine} which comprises reacting 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-17.alpha.-allylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol with diethyl carbonate and potassium-tert-butylate.

29. A process according to claim 28 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-17.alpha.-allylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol is obtained by reacting 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spirooxane with allylamine in the presence of p-toluene-sulphonic acid.

30. The compound 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-{2'-oxo-3'-(1"-cis-propenyl)-oxazolidine} when prepared by a process accord-ing to claim 28 or 29 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

31. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is the formula IV, Rl is an ethyl group, R2 is a methyl group, R3 is hydrogen and R5 is an oxo group.

32. A process for preparing 13.beta.-ethylgona-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) with methanol, water and concentrated hydrochloric acid.

33. A process according to claim 32 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by reacting N-ethoxycarbonyl-13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol with potassium hydroxide in ethanol.

34. A process according to claim 32 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by react-ing 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spirooxirane with N-methyl-urethane and potassium-tert-butylate.

35. A process according to claim 32 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by reacting 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol with diethyl carbonate in the presence of potassium-tert-butylate.

36. The compound 13.beta.-ethylon-4en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 32, 33 or 34 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

37. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula IX, Rl is an ethyl group, R2 is a methyl group/ and R5 is an oxo group.

38. A process for preparing 13.beta.-ethylgona-4,9(10),11-trien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting 13.beta.-ethylgona-4,9(10)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) with pyrrolidine to form a 3-pyrrolidino-.DELTA.3,5(10),9(11)-trien compound, hydrolyzing the 3-pyrrolidino-.DELTA.3,5(10),9(11)-trien compound with acetic acid to form 13.beta.-ethylgona-5(10),9(11)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) and reacting this compound with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone to obtain the required compound.

39. A process according to claim 38 wherein the 13.beta.-ethylgona-4,9(10)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by reacting 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-dien-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazoli-dine) with malonic acid, water and ethanol to form 13.beta.-ethylgona-5(10)-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which is reacted with pyridin-ium perbromide in pyridine to obtain the 13.beta.-ethylgona-4,9(10)-dien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine).

40. A process according to claim 39 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by reacting N-ethoxycarbonyl-13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol with potassium hydroxide in ethanol.

41. A process according to claim 39 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by react-ing 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxygona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spirooxirane with N-methyl-urethane and potassium-tert-butylate.

42. A process according to claim 39 wherein the 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by reacting 13.beta.-ethyl-3-methoxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethylgona-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol with diethyl carbonate in the presence of potassium-tert-butylate.

43. The compound 13.beta.-ethylgona-4,9(10),11-trien-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 38, 39 or 40.

44. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formula IV, Rl and R2 are methyl groups, R3 is hydrogen and R5 is an oxo group.

45. A process for preparing oestr-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting 3-methoxyoestra-2,5(10)-diene-17s-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) with methanol,water and concentrated hydrochloric acid.

46. A process according to claim 45 wherein the 3-methoxyoestra-2,5(10)-diene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) is prepared by reacting 3-methoxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethyloestra-2,5(10)-dien-17.beta.-ol with diethyl carbonate and potassium-tert-butylate.

47. The compound oestr-4-en-3-one-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxa-zolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 45 or 46 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.

48. A process according to claim 1 wherein Z is of formllla XIV, Rl and R2 are both methyl groups/ and R4 is hydroxyl.

49. A process for preparing 3.beta.-hydroxy-5.beta.,19-cycloandrost-6-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) which comprises reacting N-ethoxy-carbonyl-3.beta.,17.beta.-dihydroxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethyl-5.beta.,l9-cycloandrost-6-ene with sodium ethylate.

50. A process according to claim 49 wherein the N-ethoxycarbonyl-3.beta.,17.beta.-dihydroxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethyl-5.beta.,l9-cycloandrost-6-ene is prepared by reacting 3.beta.-acetoxy-5.beta.,l9-cycloandrost-6-en-17-one with trimethylsulfonium iodide and potassium-tert-butylate to form 3.beta.-hydroxy-5.beta.,19-cycloandrost-6-ene-17S reacting the spirooxixane with methylamine in the presence of p-toluenesulphonic acid to form 3.beta.,17.beta.-dihydroxy-17.alpha.-methylaminomethyl-5.beta.,19-cycloandrost-6-ene and converting this compound to the N-ethoxycarbonyl compound by reaction with diethylpyrocarbonate.

51. The compound 3.beta.-hydroxy-5.beta.,19-cycloandrost-6-ene-17S-spiro-5'-(2'-oxo-3'-methyloxazolidine) when prepared by a process according to claim 49 or 50 or an obvious chemical equivalent thereof.