Tricyclic steroid analogs

A 1H-benz[e]indene dodecahydro compound of the following structural formula:

• ##STR37## wherein R.sub.1 =H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or fluoroalkyl;
• R.sub.2 =H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or fluoroalkyl, in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different;
• R.sub.3 =H or CH.sub.3 ;
• R.sub.4 =H or CH.sub.3, in which R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 can be the same or different;
• R.sub.5 =H;
• R.sub.6 =H;
• R.sub.5,R.sub.6 =.dbd.O(carbonyl);
• R.sub.7 =H;
• R.sub.8 =a hydrogen bond accepting group.
• R.sub.7,R.sub.8 =.dbd.O(carbonyl);
• and
• R'=H or an ester group,
• wherein said ester group (R') is a group derived from reaction between a hydroxyl group with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 organic acid, acid halide or anhydride, and said hydrogen bond accepting group (R.sub.8) is (1) a keton, --CO--R", wherein R" is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or fluoroalkyl group or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, (2) an .alpha.-hydroxy ketone, --CO-- CH.sub.2 OH, or ester thereof, --CO--CO.sub.2 OXOR''', wherein X.dbd.C, P.dbd.O(OR'''), or S.dbd.O, and R''' is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group, (3) an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid, --COOR'' or --CH.sub.2 COOR''', wherein R'''is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group, (4) an amine NHR" or N(R").sub.2, wherein R" is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or fluoroalkyl group or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalklyl group, (5) a nitrile, CN, or a .gamma.-lactone ##STR38##