Process for the production of androstenes and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

In a process for the production of pure compounds of the formula I wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an acetyl group, substantially free of 3-isomer, a mixture of (5 )-androst-2-en-17-one and (5 )-androst-3-en-17-one is treated with Jones reagent and the pure (5 )-androst-2-en-17-one is isolated from the reaction mixture and further reacted with an alkali metal salt of acetylene and, if desired acetylated. The compounds are useful as pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of endometriosis; benign breast disease; pituitary-gonadal dysfunction in both sexes, including some forms of infertility and, in animals, the pseudogestational syndrome.