Automatic procedures for the synthesis of difficult peptides using oxyma as activating reagent: A comparative study on the use of bases and on different deprotection and agitation conditions

Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) is a rapid and efficient methodology for the chemical synthesis of peptides and small proteins. However, the assembly of peptide sequences classified as "difficult" poses severe synthetic problems in SPPS for the occurrence of extensive aggregation of growing peptide chains which often leads to synthesis failure. In this framework, we have investigated the impact of different synthetic procedures on the yield and final purity of three well-known "difficult peptides" prepared using oxyma as additive for the coupling steps. In particular, we have comparatively investigated the use of piperidine and morpholine/DBU as deprotection reagents, the addition of DIPEA, collidine and N-methylmorpholine as bases to the coupling reagent. Moreover, the effect of different agitation modalities during the acylation reactions has been investigated. Data obtained represent a step forward in optimizing strategies for the synthesis of "difficult peptides".

Biomolecular study of human thymidylate synthase conformer-selective inhibitors: New chemotherapeutic approach

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a well-validated target for the therapy of adult cancers. Propane-1,3-diphosphonic acid (PDPA) has significant inhibitory properties against human thymidylate synthase (hTS) relative to mouse TS which is not predicted to adopt an inactive conformer. The current research aims to identify novel, lead inhibitors of hTS and examine the prediction that they bind selectively to hTS enzymes existing in different conformational equilibria. Conformer-selectivity was evaluated through performing activity inhibition studies, as well as intrinsic fluorescence (IF) studies in comparison to the known orthosteric inhibitor raltitrexed (RTX). Human TS was isolated from recombinant bacteria expressing either native hTS, capable of conformational switching, or an actively stabilized mutant (R163K-hTS). The examined test compounds were rationally or virtually predicted to have inhibitory activity against hTS. Among these compounds, glutarate, N-(4-carboxyphenyl) succinamic acid, and diglycolic anhydride showed higher selectivity towards native hTS as compared to R163K-hTS. The active site inhibitor RTX showed significantly higher inhibition of R163K-hTS relative to hTS. Targeting hTS via conformational selectivity represents a future approach for overcoming reported resistance towards active-state TS analogs.

Synthesis of novel 4'-acylamino modified 21E-benzylidene steroidal derivatives and their cytotoxic activities

A series of 4'-acylamino modified Δ^1,4-pregnadien-21E-benzylidene-3,20-dione derivatives (6a-v) was synthesized from the commercially available progesterone (1). These title compounds were evaluated for their toxicity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and cytotoxic activities against two human cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7). The results revealed that compound 6f exhibited promising in vitro cytotoxic activity to the two cancer cell lines and the nature of acylamino functional group in the benzylidene moiety had a significant influence on cytotoxicity.

A new Oxyma derivative for nonracemizable amide-forming reactions in water

An Oxyma derivative, (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)acetate (2), displayed remarkable physicochemical properties as a peptide-coupling additive for peptide-forming reactions in water. Short peptides to oligopeptides could be synthesized by using 2, EDCI, and NaHCO(3) in water without measurable racemization. Significantly, a simple basic and acidic aqueous workup procedure can remove all reagents utilized in the reactions to afford only coupling products in consistently excellent yields.

Biotransformation of (20S)-20-hydroxymethylpregna-1,4-dien-3-one by four filamentous fungi

Microbial transformation of (20S)-20-hydroxymethylpregna-1,4-dien-3-one (1) by four filamentous fungi, Cunninghamella elegans, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Gibberella fujikuroi, afforded nine new, and two known metabolites 2-12. The structures of these metabolites were characterized through detailed spectroscopic analysis. These metabolites were obtained as a result of biohydroxylation of 1 at C-6β, -7β, -11α, -14α, -15β, -16β, and -17α positions, except metabolite 2 which contain an O-acetyl group at C-22. These fungal strains demonstrated to be efficient biocatalysts for 11α-hydroxylation. Compound 1, and its metabolites were evaluated for the first time for their cytotoxicity against the HeLa cancer cell lines, and some interesting results were obtained.

Photo-conversion of two epimers (20R and 20S) of pregna-5,7-diene-3beta, 17alpha, 20-triol and their bioactivity in melanoma cells

Pregna-5,7-dienes and their hydroxylated derivatives can be formed in vivo when there is a deficiency in 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) Delta-reductase function, e.g., Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS). Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation induces photoconversion of 7-DHC to vitamin D3, lumisterol3 and tachysterol3. Two epimers (20R and 20S) of pregna-5,7-diene-3beta,17alpha,20-triol (4R and 4S, respectively) were synthesized and their UVB photo-conversion products identified as corresponding 9,10-secosteroids with vitamin D-like and tachysterol-like structures, and 5,7-dienes with inverted configuration at C-9 and C-10 (lumisterol-like). The number and character of the products and the dynamics of the process were dependent on the UVB dose. At high UVB doses, the formation of multiple oxidized derivatives of the primary products, and the formation of 5,7,9(11)-triene, were observed. The production of vitamin D-like, tachysterol-like and lumisterol-like derivatives was also observed in human skin treated with 4R and 4S, and subjected to UV irradiation, as shown by RP-HPLC. Newly synthesized compounds inhibited melanoma growth in dose dependent manner, and some of them showed equal or higher potency than 1,25(OH)2D3. In summary, we have characterized for the first time the products of UV induced conversion of pregna-5,7-diene-3beta,17alpha,20-triols and documented that the newly synthesized compounds have antiproliferative properties against melanoma cells.

In vivo and in vitro effect of novel 4,16-pregnadiene-6,20-dione derivatives, as 5alpha-reductase inhibitors

In this study, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of several new 3-substituted pregna-4,16-diene-6,20-dione derivatives (11a-11d). These compounds were prepared from the commercially available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The biological effect of these steroids was demonstrated in in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the in vivo experiments, we measured the activity of the 11a-11d on the weight of the prostate gland of gonadectomized hamsters treated with testosterone plus finasteride or with the new steroids. For the studies in vitro, we determined the IC50 values by measuring the steroid concentration that inhibits 50% of the activity of 5alpha-reductase present in human prostate. In order to study the mechanism of action of 11a-11d, we also determined the capacity of these steroids to bind to the androgen receptor (AR) present in the rat prostate cytosol using labeled mibolerone as a tracer. The results from this work indicated that compounds 11a-11d significantly decreased the weight of the prostate as compared to testosterone treated animals and this reduction of the weight of the prostate was comparable to that produced by the finasteride. On the other hand 11a-11d exhibited a high inhibitory activity for the human 5alpha-reductase enzyme with IC50 values of 1.4 x 10(-8), 1.8 x 10(-9), 1.0 x 10(-8) and 4 x 10(-5) respectively. However the IC50 value of 11a (1.8 x 10(-9)) was the only one lower than that of finasteride (8.5 x 10(-9)). Nevertheless this compound did not show a higher potency in vivo as compared to that of compounds 11b-11d. The competition analysis for the androgen receptor indicated that the IC50 value of non-labeled mibolerone used in this experiment was 1nM, whereas steroids 10, 11a-11d did not inhibit the labeled mibolerone binding to the androgen receptor. On the other hand, steroid 10 did not show any activities in vitro or in vivo, and for this reason these steroidal derivatives (11a-11d) cannot be considered as prodrugs of compound 10. In conclusion, the compounds containing chlorine 11a, bromine 11b, iodine 11c atoms, and 11d (without any substituent in the ester moiety) at C-3 produce a significant decrease of the prostate weight in castrated animals treated with T and inhibits the activity of the 5alpha-reductase. Apparently the presence of the halogen atoms in compounds 11a-11c enhances the inhibitory activity for the 5alpha-reductase enzyme.

Two new pregnane glycosides from soft coral Cladiella krempfi

Two new pregnane-type steroidal glycosides, pregna-5,20-dien-3-O-alpha-fucopyranoside (1) and pregna-20-en-3-O-alpha-fucopyranoiside (2), along with two known pregnane derivatives, were isolated from the soft coral Cladiella krempfi. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis.

Guggulsterones induce apoptosis and differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia: identification of isomer-specific antileukemic activities of the pregnadienedione structure

In this study, the antileukemic effects of three isomeric pregnadienedione steroids [i.e., cis-guggulsterone, trans-guggulsterone, and 16-dehydroprogesterone] were investigated in HL60 and U937 cells as well as in primary leukemic blasts in culture. Our results show that all three compounds inhibited the proliferation of HL60 and U937 cells, with IC50s ranging from 3.6 to 10.9 micromol/L after treatment for 6 days. These growth inhibitory effects correlated with externalization of phosphatidylserine and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that these isomeric steroids induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. z-VAD-fmk prevented phosphatidylserine externalization but not mitochondrial membrane potential loss, indicating that mitochondrial dysfunction occurred in the absence of caspase activation. Interestingly, although all three compounds increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, only cis-guggulsterone induced a rapid depletion of reduced glutathione levels and oxidation of the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin. 16-Dehydroprogesterone and trans-guggulsterone induced differentiation of HL60 and NB4 cells as evidenced by increased surface expression of CD11b and/or CD14, and all three steroids rapidly induced mitochondrial dysfunction and phosphatidylserine externalization of CD34-positive blasts from primary leukemic samples. This study is the first to show that guggulsterones and 16-dehydroprogesterone exert antileukemic effects via the induction of apoptosis and differentiation and, more importantly, identifies the pregnadienedione structure as a potential chemotherapeutic scaffold.

Transactivation via the human glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor by therapeutically used steroids in CV-1 cells: a comparison of their glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid properties

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used for long-term medication in immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory therapy. However, the data describing gluco- and mineralo-corticoid (MC) properties of widely applied synthetic GCs are often based on diverse clinical observations and on a variety of in vitro tests under various conditions, which makes a quantitative comparison questionable.

METHOD

We compared MC and GC properties of different steroids, often used in clinical practice, in the same in vitro test system (luciferase transactivation assay in CV-1 cells transfected with either hMR or hGRalpha expression vectors) complemented by a system to test the steroid binding affinities at the hMR (protein expression in T7-coupled rabbit reticulocyte lysate).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

While the potency of a GC is increased by an 11-hydroxy group, both its potency and its selectivity are increased by the Delta1-dehydro-configuration and a hydrophobic residue in position 16 (16-methylene, 16alpha-methyl or 16beta-methyl group). Almost ideal GCs in terms of missing MC effects, as defined by our in vitro assay, are therefore prednylidene, budesonide, beclomethasone and betamethasone.The MC potency of a steroid is increased by a 9alpha- or a 6alpha-fluoro substituent. A hydrophilic substituent in position 16 (like 16-hydroxylation in triamcinolone) decreases both MC and GC properties. As no substituent that leads to an isolated reduction of GC activity could be characterized in our experiments, 9alpha-fluorocortisol, the most frequently used steroid for MC substitution, seems to be the best choice of available steroids for this purpose.

Novel 17 Substituted Pregnadiene Derivatives as 5.ALPHA.-Reductase Inhibitors and Their Binding Affinity for the Androgen Receptor

The in vitro antiandrogenic activity of four new progesterone derivatives: 4, 5, 6 and 7 (8 is a known compound) was determined. These compounds were evaluated as 5alpha-reductase inhibitors as well as by their capacity to bind to the androgen receptor in gonadectomized hamster prostate. The IC(50) value was determined using increasing concentrations of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the presence of [(3)H]T and the microsomal fraction of the hamster prostate containing the 5alpha-reductase enzyme. In this paper we also demonstrated the effect of increasing concentrations of the novel steroids upon [(3)H]DHT binding to the androgen receptors from hamster prostate which produces competition for the androgen receptor sites. The in vitro studies showed that steroids 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 had an inhibitory activity for the 5alpha-reductase with IC(50) of: 4 (0.17 microM), 5 (0.19 microM), 6 (1 microM), 7 (4.2 microM), and 8 (2.7 microM). On the other hand, the IC(50) value for compounds 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and DHT showed the following order of affinity for the androgen receptor: 6>7>5>DHT. Surprisingly compounds 4 and 8 did not bind to the androgen receptor. The overall data indicate that all synthesized compounds are inhibitors for the enzyme 5alpha-reductase present in the hamster prostate. In contrast, compounds 5, 6 and 7, which have a cyclohexyl group in the side chain showed a high affinity for the androgen receptor.

General patterns in the photochemistry of pregna-1,4-dien-3,20-diones

The photochemistry of six pregna-1,4-dien-3,20-diones has been compared and found to involve both the cyclohexadienone moiety in ring A and the isolated ketone at C-20. The two reactions take place proportionally to the fraction of light absorbed by each chromophore. The cross-conjugated ketone absorbs predominantly or exclusively at both 254 and 366 nm and undergoes the "lumi" rearrangement to bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-one. The quantum yield of the reaction diminished somewhat with increasing lambda(exc), e.g., for prednisolone Phi(254) (nm) = 0.42, Phi(366) (nm) = 0.3. A much stronger lowering is caused by halogen substitution in position 9 (by a factor of 3 for F, >50 for Cl), apparently due to a shortened triplet lifetime caused by heavy atom effect. At 310 nm, both chromophores absorb to a comparable degree and both may react. The reaction at C(20) ketone involves either quite efficient alpha-cleavage (C(17)-C(20)) for compounds bearing an acetal or hydroxyl function at C(17) or less effective (by a factor of ca. 10) hydrogen abstraction from the 18-methyl group in the other cases (finally resulting in Norrish II fragmentation or Yang cyclization). The results allow generalizing how the substitution pattern surrounding each chromophore affects the photoreactivity at that site and the competition between the two modes, allowing predicting the photochemistry of this family of antiinflammatory drugs.

Oxidative fragmentation of pregna-14,16-dien-20-ones to 14 beta-hydroxyandrost-15-en-17-ones

Two methods have been developed for efficient conversion of pregna-14,16-dien-20-ones into 14 beta-hydroxyandrost-15-en-17-ones. One procedure consists of treatment of the ring-D dienone successively with sodium borohydride and singlet oxygen. The reaction is illustrated by the conversion of pregna-14,16-dien-20-one 1 into 14 beta-hydroxyandrost-15-en-17-one 3, via the corresponding allylic alcohol 2. Although this two-step procedure is simple, it provides 3 in relatively low yield, accompanied by a smaller amount of the isomeric 14 alpha-hydroxyandrost-15-en-17-one 6. An alternative one-step conversion is achieved by treatment of dienone 1 with a peroxyacid in the presence of a strong protic acid. This process is illustrated by the two-step conversion of dienone 1 into hydroxy ketone 11 in 51% overall yield (Scheme 5) and by the analogous conversion of dienone 13 into hydroxy ketone 24 in 61% overall yield (Scheme 11).

Noncommunicating photoreaction paths in some pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-diones

The photochemistry of three pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-diones bearing a hydroxy or alkoxy group at C(17) (4-6) has been examined. Irradiation at 254 or 366 nm, where absorption by the cross-conjugated ketone moiety in ring A is predominant or exclusive, causes the 'lumiketone' rearrangement of this chromophore in low to medium quantum yield (Phi(r) 0.05 to 0.31). On the contrary, irradiation at 310 nm, where the isolated ketone at C(20) absorbs a large portion of light causes Norrish-I fragmentation of that chromophore with a higher Phi(r) (0.11-0.83). This leads to end-products arising from the conversion of the C(17) alkyl radical, in a way depending on the structure and the medium (reduction by hydrogen donating solvent, addition of oxygen when present). No intramolecular T-T energy transfer between the separated chromophores occurs. The 'lumiketone' rearrangement occurs independently from the irradiation wavelength (Phi(r) 0.06-0.18) with the strictly related androsta-1,4-dien-3-one 8 lacking the C(20) ketone function.

New steroidal anti-inflammatory antedrugs: methyl 21-desoxy-21-chloro-11beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxo-1, 4-pregnadiene-16alpha-carboxylate, methyl 21-desoxy-21-chloro-11beta-hydroxy-3,20-dioxo-1, 4-pregnadiene-16alpha-carboxylate, and their 9alpha-fluoro derivatives*

To a series of 21-desoxy-21-chloro-corticosteroids, a metabolically labile methoxycarbonyl group at C-16 has been incorporated. The approach is to synthesize locally active compounds that are hydrolyzed to inactive and readily excretable acid metabolites upon entry into the systemic circulation. Novel antedrugs were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity and their adverse effects in an acute and semichronic croton oil-induced ear edema bioassay. Binding affinity to glucocorticoid receptors and induction of L-tyrosine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase were studied in hepatoma tissue culture cells. After a single topical application in the croton oil-induced ear edema bioassay, treatment with all the compounds resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of edema. From these dose-response profiles, the following ID(50) values (nmol/ear resulting in a 50% reduction of edema) were calculated: 540, 618, 454, and 346 nmol for prednisolone (P), methyl 21-desoxy-21-chloro-11beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxo-1, 4-pregnadien-16alpha-carboxylate (PClCM), methyl 21-desoxy-21-chloro-11beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha-fl uoro-3, 20-dioxo-1,4-pregnadien-16alpha-carboxylate (FPClCM), and methyl 21-desoxy-21-chloro-9alpha-fluoro-11beta-hydroxy-3,20-dioxo- 1, 4-pregnadien-16alpha-carboxylate (FDPClCM), respectively. Results of the 5-day rat croton oil ear edema bioassay indicated that, in contrast with the parent compound P, the novel steroidal antedrugs did not significantly alter body weight gain, thymus weights, or plasma corticosterone levels. The binding affinities for cytosolic hepatoma tissue culture glucocorticoid receptors were 33, 201, 471, 5304, and 3765 nM for P, PClCM, FPClCM, methyl 21-desoxy-21-chloro-11beta-hydroxy-3,20-dioxo-1, 4-pregnadien-16alpha-carboxylate (DPClCM), and FDPClCM, respectively. Collectively, results of these investigations suggest that modifications of P, which included replacement of 21-hydroxyl group with chlorine and addition of 16-methoxycarbonyl group with or without 17-hydroxyl moiety, retained the topical anti-inflammatory activity of the parent compound P without significant adverse systemic effects.

Synthesis and in vitro activity of some epimeric 20 alpha-hydroxy, 20-oxime and aziridine pregnene derivatives as inhibitors of human 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase and 5 alpha-reductase

Some epimeric 20-hydroxy, 20-oxime, 16 alpha, 17 alpha-, 17,20- and 20,21-aziridine derivatives of progesterone were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of human 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (P450(17) alpha) and 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-R). The reduction of 16-dehydropregenolone acetate (3a) was reinvestigated. NaBH4 in the presence of CeCl3 gave better stereo-selectivity for 20 beta-ol [20 alpha/20 beta-OH (4 alpha/4 beta) = 1/2.7] than LTBAH or the Meerwein-Pondroff method reported; reduction with Zn in HOAc formed exclusively 20 alpha-ol (4 alpha b). The 20 alpha- and 20 beta-hydroxy-4,16-pregnadien-3-one (9 alpha) and (9 beta) were synthesized from the alcohols 4 alpha b and 4 beta b. Several 20-oxime pregnadienes and 16 alpha, 17 alpha-, 17,20- and 20,21-aziridinyl-5-pregnene derivatives were also synthesized. LiAlH4 reduction of the 16-en-20-oxime (12b) yielded 20 (R)-(13a) and 20(S)-17 alpha,20-aziridine (13b) and 20(R)-17 beta,20-aziridine (14a). Several compounds inhibited the human P450(17) alpha with greater potency than ketoconzole. The 5 alpha-R enzyme assay showed that while (9 alpha) did not have any activity, (9 beta) and (3b) were potent 5 alpha-reductase (IC50 = 21 and 31 nM) inhibitors with activities similar to finasteride. The 20-oximes (17a) and (17b) were potent dual inhibitors for both 5 alpha-R (IC50 = 63 and 115 nM, compared to 33 nM for finasteride) and P450(17) alpha (IC50 = 43 and 25 nM, compared to 78 nM for ketoconazole).

Two new pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca saligna

Two new preganae-type steroidal alkaloids, (20S, 2'Z)-20- (N,N-dimethylamino)-3 beta-(2-methyl-2Z-butenamido)-pregn-5-en-4-one and (20S, 2'Z)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3 beta-(2-methyl-2Z-butenamido)- pregna-5,14-dien-4-one, have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots and stems of Sarcococca saligna, in addition to the two known alkaloids, N-formylchonemorphine and vaganine-A, which have been isolated for the first time from this species.

Two new pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca saligna

Two new preganae-type steroidal alkaloids, (20S, 2'Z)-20- (N,N-dimethylamino)-3 beta-(2-methyl-2Z-butenamido)-pregn-5-en-4-one and (20S, 2'Z)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3 beta-(2-methyl-2Z-butenamido)- pregna-5,14-dien-4-one, have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots and stems of Sarcococca saligna, in addition to the two known alkaloids, N-formylchonemorphine and vaganine-A, which have been isolated for the first time from this species.

Enzyme induction and receptor-binding affinity of steroidal 20-carboxamides in rat hepatoma tissue culture cells

The steroidal 20-carboxamides [(20R)- and (20S)-21-(N-substituted amino)-11 beta,17,20-trihydroxy-3,21-dioxo-1,4-pregnadiene] recently have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of inflammation. These N-substituted methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and benzyl derivatives also exhibited suppressive effects on plasma corticosterone and thymus function. Generally, the (20R)-hydroxy-20-carboxamides were more potent than the corresponding (20S)-epimers. In continuing investigations on the glucocorticoid effects of these compounds, we have studied their ability to induce tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), inhibit uptake of [3H]thymidine into DNA, and complete with [3H] dexamethasone for binding to the hepatoma tissue culture glucocorticoid receptor. Results indicated that the N-substituted methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl derivatives were full glucocorticoid agonists in the three measurements. Receptor binding affinities of the N-substituted carboxamides correlated well with their ability to induce TAT activity and to inhibit thymocyte proliferation. Structure-activity relationships indicated that the larger the N-substituent, the weaker the agonist activity in this system, and 20R isomers exhibited higher glucocorticoid agonist activity than the corresponding 20S isomers. This investigation is part of our effort to elucidate structure-activity relationships of steroidal carboxamides synthesized on the basis of the antedrug concept.

Regioselective reactions of 1,2-dehydroprogesterone: syntheses of pregnane derivatives as possible contragestational agents

A few pregnane derivatives were synthesized from 1,2-dehydroprogesterone (1). Ring A of 1,2-dehydroprogesterone was aromatized without affecting C-20, and the resulting acetoxy compound (2) after hydrolysis yielded 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-20-one (3). Reactions of the phenol (3) with alkyl halides yielded the ethers 6a-6b and 7. Opening of the oxirane ring in 7 with secondary amines furnished the aminoalcohols 8a-8b. Friedelcraft's reaction of 3 with maleic anhydride and chloracetyl chloride led to the formation of 9 and 10, respectively. Base-catalyzed ring closure of 10 yielded 1-acetyl-12a-methyl-8-oxo-5[H]-1,2,3,3a,3b,4,8,9,10b,11,12, 12a-dodecahydrocyclopenta (7,8)-phenanthro (3,4-b) furan (11), which reacted with aromatic aldehydes regioselectively to furnish 12a-12b. Reaction of 1 with triethylorthoformate in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate involved the participation of C-21, and the carbonyl at C-3 remained unaffected. The product 13 was identified as 21-[2-hydroxyvinyl]-21-norpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione. Reductive amination with sodium cyanoborohydride in the presence of ammonium acetate did not attack ring A and smoothly furnished the amine 14 which, on reaction with succinic anhydride, gave 20-succinamylpregna-1,4-dien-3-one (15).