PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PREGNANE COMPOUNDS AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SULPHITE ESTERS

摘要

17 beta -Hydroxy-17 alpha -ethynyl steroids are converted to 17-ethers and 17-esters of 17 alpha -hydroxy-20-keto-pregnane steroids by forming a 17-sulfite ester of the 17 beta -hydroxy group with thionyl chloride in the presence of base and then reacting the sulfite ester with an alcohol or carboxylic acid in the presence of an Hg<++> salt.