The ring-C aromatic analogue 4 of 4-androstene 3,17-dione and its 11 hydroxylated (methoxylated) derivatives 20a(b) were prepared by a practical synthetic route. The key steps of the sequence are achieved in superacid: the cyclisation of diarylethane 5a to phenanthrenone 17, and the hydroxylation by hydrogen peroxide of ketone 4 to phenol 20a.