Preparation of 6.alpha., 9.alpha.-difluoro steroids

A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula ##STR10## wherein R is hydrogen or an ester remainder comprising reacting a compound of the formula ##STR11## with an oxidizing degradation agent to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR12## protecting the 3-ketone function in the form of the enol ether or ester and optionally the 17.beta.-acid function in the form of an ester to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR13## wherein R is defined as above and R.sub.1 is a remainder of an enol ether or ester, reacting the latter with an electrophilic fluorination agent to obtain a compound of the formula ##STR14## reacting the latter with a nucleophilic fluorination agent to obtain the compound of formula I and optionally when R is an ester remainder, saponifying the latter to obtain the corresponding acid.