17.beta.-nitro-11.beta.-arylsteroids and their derivatives having agonist or antagonist hormonal properties

A hormonal or antihormonal steroid compound of structure I, ##STR11## wherein R.sup.1 is (R.sup.2 R.sup.3 N(O).sub.r)--, where r is 0 or 1 and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, any of which may be optionally substituted;

• or
• R.sup.1 is halo-, HO--, CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2 O--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl O--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl S--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl S(O)--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl S(O.sub.2)--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl CO--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl CH(OH)--, NC--, HC.tbd.C--, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 C.tbd.C--, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 --, H.sub.2 C.tbd.CH--, C.sub.1-6 alkyl or MeC(.dbd.CH.sub.2)-;
• and
• R.sup.12 is H or halo;
• or
• X is O or NOR.sup.5, where R.sup.5 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, C.sub.2-6 alkynyl or C.sub.6-12 aryl, any of which may be optionally substituted;
• or
• X is (H, H), (H, OH), (H, OSi(C.sub.1-6 alkyl).sub.3), or (H, OCOR.sup.5), where R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, C.sub.6-12 aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl or aralkynyl, any of which may be optionally substituted;
• or
• R.sup.6 is H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, or halogen;
• R.sup.7 is H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, or C.sub.2-6 alkynyl, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-12 aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl or aralkynyl, any of which may be optionally substituted, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.