11.beta.-Substituted-.DELTA..sup.4,9 -estradienes

A compound of the formula ##STR13## wherein R.sub.1 is linear or branched alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, unsaturated alkyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of alkylthio of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogens aryl of 6 to 12 carbon atoms and aralkyl of 7 to 13 carbon atoms optionally substituted with at least one member of the group consisting of alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen and --CF.sub.3 and a heterocycle selected from the group consisting of thienyl, isothienyl and furyl, R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, acyloxy of an organic carboxylic acid of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and acyl of an organic carboxylic acid of 1 to 18 carbon atoms and R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl and alkoxy of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl and alkynyl of 2 to 8 carbon atoms and acyloxy of an organic carboxylic acid of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sub.4 is not hydrogen when R.sub.1 is allyl, R.sub.2 is methyl and R.sub.3 is hydroxy.