The synthesis of two key precursors for caging bioactive compounds, an o-nitrobenzyl p-nitrophenyl carbonate and an o-nitrobenzyl diazo compound with a steroid skeleton, is reported. The former is a suitable caging group for an amino group, while the latter is appropriate for a carboxylic acid. The resulting caged compounds were irradiated at 350 nm to afford the corresponding amine and carboxylic