Described herein are steroids of Formula (I):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5a, R.sup.5b, R.sup.6, and Z are as defined herein. Such compounds are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, convulsive disorders, disorders of memory and/or cognition, movement disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pain, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases, substance abuse disorders and/or withdrawal syndromes, and tinnitus.

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.

Disclosed are compounds that accumulate in Gram-negative bacteria. Also disclosed are method of antimicrobial treatment using the compounds.

Compounds are provided according to Formula (I):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof; wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3a, R.sup.3b, R.sup.4, R.sup.5a, R.sup.5b, R.sup.6a, and R.sup.6b are as defined herein. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions.

Described herein are steroids of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5a, R.sup.5b, R.sup.6, and Z are as defined herein. Such compounds are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, convulsive disorders, disorders of memory and/or cognition, movement disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pain, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases, substance abuse disorders and/or withdrawal syndromes, and tinnitus. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of 11-methylene steroids through selective olefination of the ketone at position 11. The resulting products are useful intermediates in the preparation of several pharmaceutically active agents, such as Etonogestrel and Desogestrel.

Described herein are neuroactive steroids of the Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein -----, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.5, A and L 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 present invention discloses method for preparing deoxycholic acid (DCA) or an ester thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Said compounds may be applied to remove a fat deposition.

Compounds are provided according to Formula (I): ##STR00001##
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof; wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3a, R.sup.3b, R.sup.4, R.sup.5a, R.sup.5b, R.sup.6a, and R.sup.6b are as defined herein. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions.

##STR00001##

The invention pertains to a process for producing a compound of formula (11) wherein R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are each independently selected from H, halogen, alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl, R.sup.42 is H or a protective group, R.sup.43 is H or R.sup.3, wherein R.sup.3 is a protective group, by contacting a compound of formula (10) with an olefmation reagent, wherein compound of formula (10) comprises a counter acid X.sup.1 when R.sup.42H and R.sup.43H.