PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DROSPIRENONE (6beta, 7beta; 15beta, 16beta - DIMETHYLENE- 3-OXO-17alpha-PREGN-4-EN-21, 17-CARBOLACTONE, DRSP), AS WELL AS 7alpha- (3-HYDROXY-1-PROPYL) - 6beta, 7beta; 15beta, 16beta-DIMETHYLENE-5beta - ANDROSTANE-3beta, 5, 17beta-TRIOL (ZK 92836) AND 6beta, 7beta; 15beta, 16beta - DIMETHYLENE - 5beta HYDROXY-5-OXO-17alpha-ANDROSTANE-21,17-CARBOLACTONE

摘要

Production of drospirenone (6beta ,7beta ;15beta ,16beta -dimethylene-3-oxo-17alpha -pregn-4-ene-21,17-carbolactone) of formula (I) comprises catalytically hydrogenating 17alpha -(3-hydroxy-1-propynyl)-6beta ,7beta ;15beta ,16beta -dimethylene-5beta -androstane-3beta ,5,17beta -triol of formula (II) to give 17alpha -(3-hydroxypropyl)-6beta ,7beta ;15beta ,16beta -dimethylene-5beta -androstane-3beta ,5,17beta -triol of formula (III), oxidising (III) in the presence of a ruthenium salt to give 6beta ,7beta ;15beta ,16beta -dimethylene-5beta -hydroxy-3-oxo-17alpha -pregnane-21,17-carbolactone of formula (IV), and dehydrating (IV): Also claimed are intermediates (III) and (IV).