METHOD FOR PREPARING ANDROST-4-EN-3,17-DIONE OR THEIR DERIVATIVES FROM STEROL OF VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL ORIGIN Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: organic chemistry, steroids, biotechnology, microbiology. SUBSTANCE: invention relates for preparing steroids and proposes method for preparing androst-4-en-3,17-dione of the general formula: where R₁ is hydrogen atom or C₂H₅; R₂ is hydrogen atom or CO-(CH₂)₂-COOX (where X means group NH₄, Na or K) or their derivatives from sterol of vegetable and animal origin using the strain Mycobacterium smegmatis VKPMAc-1552 resistant to streptomycin. Method ensures to transform indicated sterols in the loading 10-30 g/l to form androst-4-en-3,17-dione with yield up to 66.2% of theoretical value without taking into account the recovered parent substrate. Isolation of product of sterol transformation is carried out by sorption method. Modified copolymers of ethylstyrene and divinylbenzene are used as sorbents. Indicated sorbents can be used in cycles sorption-desorption many times. Sorbent is added to medium for transformation in the process of fermentation or after its completion. EFFECT: increased yield, enhanced quality of product, decreased labor intensity of process. 3 cl, 1 tbl