Abstract
15,16-Dihydro-17-oxocyclopenta[a]phenanthrene and its 3-methoxy, 11- and 12-methyl, and 11,12-dimethyl, derivatives have been synthesised by aromatisation of the 3-unsubstituted and 3-methoxy-11,17-diketones in which rings C and D are both saturated; the mechanism of the aromatisation is discussed.