Synthesis of C-5'-alkyl substituted 17-spirofuran 19-norsteroids.

A number of new steroidal 17-spirofuran derivatives of the 19-nor series containing Me, Et or (i)Pr-substituents in the heterocyclic moiety has been prepared, which are expected to have a strong progestagenic activity. The proposed approach made use of the 1-3-dipolar cycloaddition of low-molecular nitrile oxides with steroidal acetylenic alcohols followed by transformation of the isoxazole side chain.