Method of obtaining novel 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin d4 and novel transition and analog compounds

Novel 1 alpha -hydroxy vitamin D4 and novel analogues, 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D4 and 1,24 dihydroxy vitamin D4 which are useful as active compounds of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders of calcium metabolism. Preparation of the novel 1 alpha -hydroxy vitamin D4 starts from ergosterol which is converted in six steps to 22,23-dihydroergosterol. 22,23-dihydroergosterol was irradiated to yield vitamin D4 which is converted in four steps to 1 alpha -hydroxy vitamin D4 using a cyclovitamin procedure which produces the novel intermediates, vitamin D4 tosylate, 3,5 cyclovitamin D4 and 1 alpha -hydroxy cyclovitamin D4. 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D4 and 1,24 dihydroxy vitamin D4 are isolated as biological products of the metabolism of novel 1 alpha -hydroxy vitamin D4 using cultured human liver cells.