Process for preparation of 9,11-epoxy steroids and intermediates useful therein

A process for the preparation of a compound of Formula VI:

• wherein
• —A—A— represents the group —CHR4—CHR5— or —CR4═CR5—
• R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxycarbonyl, cyano, aryloxy,
• —B—B— represents the group —CHR6—CHR7— or an alpha- or beta-oriented group:
• where R6 and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, lower alkoxy, acyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxycarbonyl, alkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, acyloxyalkyl, cyano, aryloxy, and
• R8 and R9 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, lower alkoxy, acyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxycarbonylalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, acyloxyalkyl, cyano and aryloxy, or R8 and R9 together comprise a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring structure, or R8 and R9 together with R6 or R7 comprise a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring structure fused to the pentacyclic D ring,
• the process comprising:
• hydrolyzing a compound corresponding to Formula VII:
• wherein —A—A—, R3, —B—B—, R8, and R9 are as defined above.