Novel A-nor-steroid-3-carboxylic acid derivatives

A compound of the formula ##STR8## wherein the dotted line represents an optional double bond;

• R.sub.1 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl/cycloalkyl or --(CH.sub.2).sub.x -Ar-(M).sub.y, wherein x is 0, 1 or 2, Ar is phenyl, y is 0, 1 or 2, and M is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl/cycloalkyl, or --S(O).sub.z R.sub.5 wherein R.sub.5 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl/cycloalkyl and z is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• R.sub.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl alcohol;
• C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl aldehyde/ketone;
• CON(R.sub.3)(R.sub.4), wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently, hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl/cycloalkyl, or --(CH.sub.2).sub.x -Ar-(M).sub.y, wherein x is 0, 1 or 2, Ar is phenyl, y is 0, 1 or 2, and M is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sup.6 alkyl, or --S(O).sub.z R.sub.5 wherein R.sub.5 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl/cycloalkyl and z is 0, 1 or 2.