r 2 and r 3 substituted compounds of this invention can be prepared using one or more of the following reactions str4 in this reaction r 1 r 4 and r 5 can be as defined above a nitrate r 2 group can be inserted by the use of ceric ammonium nitrate halo r 2 39 s can be inserted by the use of ceric ammonium nitrate together with a halo containing nucleophilic such as lithium chloride or lithium bromide or the like an alkoxy r 2 can be inserted by the use of ceric ammonium nitrite together with the alkanol corresponding to the alkoxy the r 3 group will be oh if no alkanol is present and can be alkoxy if alkanol is present this reaction is generally carried out using excess ceric ammonium nitrate i e a 1 5 to 10 molar excess when forming compounds having a nitrate r 2 group the starting steroid and the ceric ammonium nitrate are mixed generally in a polar solvent especially 80 100 acetic acid and stirred at low to moderate temperatures such as 5 u00b0 to 40 u00b0 c for from about 1 hour to about 24 hours when adding halo r 2 39 s an excess 2 to 20 molar of halo nucleophile.