17.alpha. and 17.beta.-substituted estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-carbboxlic acid

A compound of the formula ##STR35## wherein Y is .alpha. or .beta. ##STR36## in which A is absent or present as a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms;

• and
• R is substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, where
• a) substituted alkyl is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6 and --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2 and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• b) cycloalkyl is nonaromatic, unsaturated or saturated, cyclic or polycyclic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH,
• where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• c) aryl is cyclic or polycyclic aromatic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, provided that when C is 3 the aromatic ring contains at least two heteroatoms, and when C is 4 the aromatic ring contains at least one heteroatom, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkoxy, acyloxy, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, halogen, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates and esters thereof.

A process for preparing a compound of the Formula (XI) ##STR37## in which A is absent or present as a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms;

• and
• R is substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, where
• a) substituted alkyl is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6 and --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2 and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup., nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• b) cycloalkyl is nonaromatic, unsaturated or saturated, cyclic or polycyclic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH,
• where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• c) aryl is cyclic or polycyclic aromatic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, provided that when C is 3 the aromatic ting contains at least two heteroatoms, and when C is 4 the aromatic ring contains at least one heteroatom, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkoxy, acyloxy, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, halogen, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates solvates and esters thereof which comprises epimerization of a compound of Formula (II) ##STR38## in which A and R are as described above, and thereafter optionally forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or solvate thereof.

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR40## in which A is absent or present as a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms;
• and
• R.sup.8 is substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, where
• a) substituted alkyl is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6 and --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2 and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• b) cycloalkyl is nonaromatic, unsaturated or saturated, cyclic or polycyclic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH,
• where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• c) aryl is cyclic or polycyclic aromatic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, provided that when C is 3 the aromatic ring contains at least two heteroatoms, and when C is 4 the aromatic ring contains at least one heteroatom, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkoxy, acyloxy, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, halogen, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• or moieties which can be chemically convened into moieties a, b or c;
• and R.sup.4 is trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy, fluorosulfonyloxy or hydroxy.

A compound of the Formula (VII) ##STR42## in which A is absent or present as a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms;

• and
• R is substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, where
• a) substituted alkyl is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain containing from 1-12 carbon atoms substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6 and --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2 and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• b) cycloalkyl is nonaromatic, unsaturated or saturated, cyclic or polycyclic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH,
• where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• c) aryl is cyclic or polycyclic aromatic C.sub.3 -C.sub.12, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, provided that when C is 3 the aromatic ring contains at least two heteroatoms, and when C is 4 the aromatic ring contains at least one heteroatom, and optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• aryloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkoxy, acyloxy, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, nitro, cyano, halogen, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.5, protected --OH and alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, halogen and protected --OH,
• where
• R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl,
• n is 0-2,
• R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl and
• R.sup.5 is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted cycloalkyl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of:
• alkoxy, acyloxy, aryloxy, amino, N-acylamino, oxo, hydroxy, --C(O)OR.sup.6, --S(O).sub.n R.sup.7, nitro, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl, substituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl and protected --OH, where R.sup.6 is hydrogen or alkyl, n is 0-2 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen or alkyl.