[Synthesis and antifertility activity of a-nor-5 alpha-androstane derivatives]

In order to study the relationship between the structure of A-nor-5 alpha-androstane derivatives and their antifertility activity, we designed and synthesized 16 A-nor-5 alpha-androstane compounds through several reaction steps with dehydroepiandrosterone acetate as a starting material. Their structures were confirmed by IR, 1HNMR, MS, elemental analyses, etc. Preliminary pharmacological tests showed that compounds 8, 9, 10 and 16 possess antiimplantation activity to some extent (2.5 mg.kg-1, administered po, gave 67-75% antiimplantation rate). Other compounds showed low activity. The possible relationship between compound structures and their activities is analysed briefly.