The invention relates to the wood chemical industry and concerns a method for extracting phytosterols from tall oil pitch. The present method of extracting phytosterols from tall oil pitch 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 makes it possible to increase the rate of extraction of phytosterols from saponified tall oil pitch to up to 95% and allows an end product to be produced that has a phytosterol content of at least 65% with unwanted betulin impurities at no more than 0.3%.

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

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

The present invention relates to extraction of phytosterols from alkaline tall oil soap which is obtained from the Kraft process black liquor by skimming. In the method according to the present invention, phytosterols are extracted using dibromomethane, bromoform, tetrabromomethane or a combination thereof.

The present invention relates to extraction of phytosterols from alkaline tall oil soap which is obtained from the Kraft process black liquor by skimming. In the method according to the present invention, phytosterols are extracted using dibromomethane, bromoform, tetrabromomethane or a combination thereof.

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##

Described herein are neuroactive steroids of the Formula (I); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein, R.sup.1, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.3 and A are as defined herein. Such compounds are envisioned, in certain embodiments, to behave as GABA modulators. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention and methods of use and treatment, e.g., such for inducing sedation and/or anesthesia.

##STR00001##

The disclosure discloses an ultrasonic-assisted pretreatment method for extraction of multiple steroid hormones in a sediment, including the following steps: (1) lyophilizing the sediment, grinding the sediment, and passing the ground sediment through a 40-60-mesh sieve; (2) placing the sample obtained in step (1) in a container; (3) adding an extractant to the container in step (2), shaking the mixture for 15 s-30 s, centrifuging the mixture to collect an supernatant after ultrasonication, and repeating extraction three times; where the extractants used in the three times of extraction are two of methanol, acetonitrile and acetone; and (4) after mixing the supernatants of the three times of extraction obtained in step (3), concentrating the mixture under a nitrogen flow at 20-30? C., passing the concentrated mixture through a filter, and performing detection. By using the method of the disclosure, the maximum recovery can be up to 100%. The application range is wide, and a recovery of the plurality of steroid hormones each can be up to 73% or above.

The disclosure discloses an ultrasonic-assisted pretreatment method for extraction of multiple steroid hormones in a sediment, including the following steps: (1) lyophilizing the sediment, grinding the sediment, and passing the ground sediment through a 40-60-mesh sieve; (2) placing the sample obtained in step (1) in a container; (3) adding an extractant to the container in step (2), shaking the mixture for 15 s-30 s, centrifuging the mixture to collect an supernatant after ultrasonication, and repeating extraction three times; where the extractants used in the three times of extraction are two of methanol, acetonitrile and acetone; and (4) after mixing the supernatants of the three times of extraction obtained in step (3), concentrating the mixture under a nitrogen flow at 20-30? C., passing the concentrated mixture through a filter, and performing detection. By using the method of the disclosure, the maximum recovery can be up to 100%. The application range is wide, and a recovery of the plurality of steroid hormones each can be up to 73% or above.