Novel androstanes for inducing hypothalamic effects

A compound of the formula:

• 57
• wherein P1 is selected from the group consisting of oxo, α-(β-) hydroxy, α-(β-) acetoxy, α-(β-) propionoxy, α-(β-) methoxy, α-(β-) lower acyloxy, α-(β-) lower alkyloxy, and α-(β-) benzoyloxy;
• P2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, hydroxymethyl, acyloxymethyl, alkoxymethyl, lower alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acyloxyalkyl, and alkoxylalkyl;
• P3 is absent or is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen methyl, hydroxymethyl, acyloxymethyl, alkoxymethyl, lower alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acyloxyalkyl, and alkoxylalkyl;
• P4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, oxo, halo, hydroxy, alkoxy, and acyloxy;
• P5 represents one or 2 substituents, wherein P5 comprises one or two hydrogen atoms, methyl, methylene, or one or two halo atoms;
• P6 is hydrogen or halo;
• and “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e”, “f”, and “h” are alternative sites for optional double bonds;
• with provisos that:
• I:
• if “f” It and “h” are absent and P2 is methyl, P5 cannot be two hydrogen atoms;
• II:
• if “h” is present;
• P3 is a methyl group, P5 is hydrogen, then
• (a) P4 cannot be hydrogen, if “e” and “a” are absent and “b” is present;
• or
• (b) “d” cannot be present if P1 is oxo, “b” is present, and “e” is absent;
• (C) P4 cannot be hydrogen if “c” and “d” are absent, “b” is present, P1 is oxo, and P2 is methyl or hydroxymethyl;
• (d) P4 cannot be oxo if “e”, “c” and “d” are absent, “b” is present, and P1 is oxo;
• (e) P4 and P6 cannot be hydrogen if P1 is oxo, “e” and “b” are present and “c” and “d” are absent;
• (f) P4 cannot be. hydrogen if P1 is β-hydroxy, “c” is present and “a”, “b”, “e” and “d” are absent;
• (g) P4 cannot be hydrogen if P1 is methoxy, “a” and “c” are present and “e”, “a” and “d” are absent.
• III:
• P4 and P6 cannot be hydrogen if P1 is oxo, “b” is present, P5 is methylene and “a”, “e”, “c” and “d” are absent;
• IV:
• P4 and P6 cannot be hydrogen if P1 is β-hydroxy, “c” is present, P5 is methylene, and “a”, “e”, “b” and “d” are absent;
• V:
• P4 and P6 cannot be hydrogen if P1 is oxo;
• “b” and “f” are present, P5 is methyl and “e”, “a”, “c”, “d” and “h” are absent.