ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of 6β-Methyl Analogues of Mifepristone, New Selective Antiprogestagens

A new strategy is described to synthesize 19-norsteroids with substituents at C-6, C-11 and C-17. The strategy is applied to the synthesis of 11β-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-6β-methyl-4′, 5′– -dihydrospiro[estra-4,9-diene-17,2′-(3′H)-furan]-3-one (15, Org 31710) and some related compounds. These compounds have been shown to have potent antiprogestational activity and, compared to previously described 11-aryl-19-norsteroids, much reduced affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor.