Chemical compounds

Steroids of the pregnane and androstane series and their 19-nor analogues having a 3.alpha.-hydroxy group;

• a 5.alpha.-hydrogen atom or a 4,5- or 5,6-double bond;
• a 17.alpha.-hydrogen atom;
• and at the 11.beta.-position a group of the formula R.sup.1 COO- where R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a monocyclic aralkyl group having a C.sub.1-6 alkyl portion, the alkyl group or alkyl portion being substituted by an amino group of the formula -NR.sup.a R.sup.b, in which R.sup.a and R.sup.b, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen atoms, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or phenalkyl groups, provided that at least one of R.sup.a and R.sup.b is other than hydrogen and that R.sup.a and R.sup.b together contain up to 14 carbon atoms, or in which R.sup.a and R.sup.b, together with the nitrogen atom, represent a saturated or ethylenically unsaturated non-aromatic monocyclic heterocyclic group having 3-10 ring members or a saturated or unsaturated bicyclic heterocyclic group having up to 10 ring carbon atoms, the ring containing the nitrogen atom being non-aromatic and either saturated or ethylenically unsaturated, which heterocyclic groups may be unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-4 alkyl;
• the 17a.alpha.-hydrogen D-homo analogues thereof;
• and the acid addition salts thereof.