Steroid derivatives

A steroid derivative of the formula:

• ST--A--X--R.sup.1
• wherein ST is a 7.alpha.-linked steroid nucleus of the general formula:
• ##STR25## wherein the dotted lines between carbon atoms 6 and 7, and carbon atoms 8 and 9, of the steroid nucleus indicate that there is an optional double bond between carbon atoms 6 and 7, or that there are two optional double bonds between carbon atoms 6 and 7 and carbon atoms 8 and 9;
• wherein the aromatic ring A may optionally bear one or two of a member selected from the group consisting of halogen and alkyl substituents;
• wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyalkanoyl or aroyl each of up to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R.sup.16 is hydrogen, alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms which is preferably in the .beta.-configuration, or hydroxy which is preferably in the .alpha.-configuration;
• wherein either R.sup.17 (in the .beta.-configuration) is hydroxy or alkanoyloxy, carboxyalkanoyloxy or aroyloxy each of up to 10 carbon atoms;
• and R.sup.27 (in the .alpha.-configuration) is hydrogen or alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl each of up to 6 carbon atoms;
• or R.sup.17 and R.sup.27 together form oxo (.dbd.0);
• wherein R.sup.18 is alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms;
• wherein A is straight-or branched-chain alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene each of from 3 to 14 carbon atoms, which may have one or more hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine atoms, or has the formula
• --A.sup.1 --Y--A.sup.11 --
• wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.11 are each alkylene or alkenylene, optionally fluorinated, having together a total of 2 to 13 carbon atoms and Y is --O--, --S--, --SO--, and --SO.sub.2 --, --CO-- or --NR-- wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl of up to 3 carbon atoms;
• or A.sup.1 is alkylene or alkenylene, optionally fluorinated, and A.sup.11 is a direct link or alkylene or alkenylene, optionally fluorinated, such that A.sup.1 and A.sup.11 together have a total of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Y is --NRCO--, --CONR--, --COO--, --OCO-- or phenylene wherein R has the meaning stated above;
• wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, or alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, halogenoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl each of up to 10 carbon atoms, or dialkylaminoalkyl wherein each alkyl is of up to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 is joined to R.sup.2 as defined below;
• and wherein X is --CONR.sup.2 --, --CSNR.sup.2 --, --NR.sup.12 --CO--, ##STR26## --NR.sup.12 --CS--, --NR.sup.12 --CONR.sup.2 --, --SO.sub.2 NR.sup.2 -- or --CO--;
• or, when R.sup.1 is not hydrogen, is --O--, --NR.sup.2 --, --(NO)R.sup.2 --, --(PO)R.sup.2 --, --NR.sup.12 --COO--;
• --NR.sup.12 --SO.sub.2 --, --S--, --SO-- or --SO.sub.2 --;
• wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form alkylene or halogenoalkylene such that, with the adjacent nitrogen atom, they form a heterocyclic ring of 5 to 7 ring atoms, one of which atoms may be a second heterocyclic atom selected from oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen;
• wherein R.sup.12 is hydrogen or alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms;
• and wherein R.sup.22 is hydrogen, cyano or nitro;
• or a salt thereof when appropriate.