The present invention provides a novel process for the manufacture of 17- and 17a-carboxylic acids of the androstane and D-homo-androstane series respectively, of the following partial formula of the ring D ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon radical or a free or functionally modified hydroxyl group, and wherein the carboxyl group can be in the .alpha.- or .beta.-position, and of the salts and functional acid derivatives thereof, in particular their esters. The new process consists in the oxidative degradation of the side chain of corrsponding 20, 21-ketoaldehydes of the pregnane or D-homopregnane series or of the 17.alpha.-pregnane or 17a.alpha.-D-homopregnane series with an organic peracid in an inert solvent, preferably at temperatures between -20 and +30.degree. C, and optionally converting free functional groups present into their derivatives or setting free functional groups from substituents which are derivatives of such groups.
本发明提供了一种制造17-和17a-
环丙烷和D-
环丙烷系列的
羧酸的新工艺,其部分分子式如下:其中R代表氢原子或未取代或取代的烃基或自由或功能修饰的羟基基团,羧基可以在α或β位置,以及它们的盐和功能酸衍
生物,特别是它们的酯。新工艺包括在惰性溶剂中,使用有机过氧酸氧化相应的孕烷或D-孕烷系列的20,21-酮醛侧链,或17α-孕烷或17aα-D-孕烷系列的20,21-酮醛侧链,并在-20至+30℃的温度下进行,可选择将存在的自由功能基团转化为其衍
生物,或从衍
生物中释放出功能基团的取代基。