Process for the preparation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione derivatives

US4100026A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• SCHERING CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Alfred Weber · Wien, AT
• Mario Kennecke · Berlin, DE
• Rudolf Mueller · Lake Forest, US
• Ulrich Eder · Berlin, DE
• Rudolf Wiechert · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 1976
• Grant date: Jul 11, 1978
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S435/886
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the preparation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is 1,2-methylene or 1- or 2-methyl, comprises fermenting a sterol derivative of the formula ##STR2## wherein X is as above, the bond is a single or double bond, and R.sub.1 is the hydrocarbon residue, of 8-10 carbon atoms, of a sterol, with a microorganism culture capable of the side chain degradation of sterols.