Provided is a process for producing a compound, which has an oxo group specifically introduced on the 15-position of a steroid skeleton and which is useful as an intermediate, with a high yield without complicated steps. A compound represented by the formula (2) is allowed to react with an oxidant (e.g., a hypervalent iodine compound) and a co-oxidant (e.g., a peroxide) to produce a 15-oxosteroid compound represented by the formula (1), which is useful as an intermediate: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 are the same or different and each represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a haloalkoxy group, R.sub.4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, or an alkoxycarbonyl group, R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an acyl group, R.sub.6 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, or a sulfonyl group, X represents an oxygen atom (O) or a methylene group (CH.sub.2).

The invention provides a novel, general, and facile strategy for the creation of small molecules with high structural and stereochemical complexity. Aspects of the methods include ring system distortion reactions that are systematically applied to rapidly convert readily available natural products to structurally complex compounds with diverse molecular architectures. Through evaluation of chemical properties including fraction of sp.sup.3 carbons, ClogP, and the number of stereogenic centers, these compounds are shown to be significantly more complex and diverse than those in standard screening collections. This approach is demonstrated with natural products (gibberellic acid, adrenosterone, and quinine) from three different structural classes, and methods are described for the application of this strategy to any suitable natural product.

Synthetic methods for preparing deoxycholic acid and intermediates thereof are provided.

Synthetic methods for preparing deoxycholic acid and intermediates thereof are provided.

The present disclosure relates to stereodefined polycyclic (e.g., tetracyclic) compounds that contain quaternary centers at one or multiple ring fusions, synthetic methods for preparing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat a disease, such as a brain tumor and, particularly, a glioma.

Compounds are provided according to Formula (I): ##STR00001##
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z is a group of the formula (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v): ##STR00002##
and wherein L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Y, R.sup.Z4, R.sup.Z5, R.sup.Z6, n, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3a, R.sup.3b, R.sup.4a, R.sup.4b, R.sup.6a, R.sup.6b, R.sup.7a, R.sup.7b, R.sup.11a, R.sup.11b, R.sup.14, R.sup.17, R.sup.19, R.sup.20, R.sup.23a, R.sup.23b, and R.sup.24 are as defined herein, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions in mammals.

Compounds are provided according to Formula (I): ##STR00001##
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z is a group of the formula (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v): ##STR00002##
and wherein L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, X.sup.1, X.sup.2, Y, R.sup.Z4, R.sup.Z5, R.sup.Z6, n, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3a, R.sup.3b, R.sup.4a, R.sup.4b, R.sup.6a, R.sup.6b, R.sup.7a, R.sup.7b, R.sup.11a, R.sup.11b, R.sup.14, R.sup.17, R.sup.19, R.sup.20, R.sup.23a, R.sup.23b, and R.sup.24 are as defined herein, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions in mammals.

A method for extracting phytosterols from tall oil pitch. The method involves saponifying tall oil pitch using an alkali in a polyatomic alcohol, extracting unsaponified matter from the alkali-alcohol solution using a hydrocarbon solvent, subsequently removing the solvent by distillation, and concentrating the phytosterols, wherein a mixture of paraffin hydrocarbons is used as said hydrocarbon solvent, and, following extraction from the extraction solution, betulin is isolated by crystallization and the phytosterols are then concentrated by means of rectification. This method enables an increase in the extraction rate of phytosterols from a saponified tall oil pitch up to 95%, producing the end product with phytosterol content of at least 65% with unwanted betulin impurities at no more than 0.3%.

The present invention refers to a new process for the synthesis of (9,10)-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, commonly known as retroprogesterone, having the formula (1) shown below. ##STR00001##

The present invention refers to a new process for the synthesis of (9,10)-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, commonly known as retroprogesterone, having the formula (1) shown below. ##STR00001##