[3,4-Dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3,3'-spiro steroid derivatives of pharmacological interest].

In order to verify the possibility of pharmacological latentiation of bioactive ketones, the building up of a 3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazine ring on position 3, 17 or 20 of steroids with hormonal activity was investigated. The heterocyclic formation was successful only on the less hindered position 3. Four (I alpha, I beta, II alpha, II beta) of the six derivatives so obtained were tested for androgenic activity and their effects were compared with those of testosterone and of the starting ketosteroids (5 alpha- and 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone, 5 alpha- and 5 beta-androstan-3,17-dione). The hormonal activity is not compromised by the coupling of the heterocyclic ring with the steroidal skeleton; on the contrary compound (I beta), derived from the inactive 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone, exhibited a high degree of androgenic activity.