Novel steroid derivative, pharmaceutical composition containing the same

NEW MATERIAL: A Δ 14 -16-α,17-dihydroxypregnane-16,17-cyclic aldehyde acetal or -cyclic ketone ketal derivative represented by formula I, wherein A stands for H or hydroxyl; X stands for H or a halogen with the proviso that, if A is H, then X also means H; R stands for H, bonzoyl, or a 1-8C alkanoyl; R 1 and R 2 stand for H or a 1-4C alkyl, or one of R 1 and R 2 is H and the other is phenyl, or R 1 and R 2 together form a 4-5C alkylene; and the broken line stands for a single or double bond between two adjacent carbon atoms. EXAMPLE: 11β,16α,17,21-Tetrahydroxypregna-4,14-diene-3,20-dione-16,17-cyclic butylaldehyde acetal. USE: An antiinflammatory agent. PROCESS: A Δ 14 -16-α-17-dihydroxypregnane derivative represented by formula II is reacted with an oxo compound represented by formula III in an acetonitrile solvent, and the like, in the presence of an acid catalyst (e.g. aqueous perchloric acid solvent, and the like). COPYRIGHT: (C)1990,JPO