wherein X1 is chlorine or fluorine, X2 is chlorine, fluorine or trifluoromethyl and R and R'' are alkyl groups or together with the nitrogen atom form a heterocyclic radical. There are preferably used compounds in which R and R'' are lower alkyl groups, such as for instance N- (2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)diethylamine, and the reaction is performed in an inert solvent e.g. ethylene chloride, at room temperature or elevated temperature, if desired, in the presence of another organic nitrogen base. The compounds of the process are intermediates for the preparation of therapeutically useful 6-fluoro-steroids, such as 6-fluoro-corticoids. In particular, the epoxides can be further reacted with the same fluorinated amine used in their preparation to give the 6 Beta ,5 Alpha -fluorohydrins.

The invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of 5 Alpha ,6 Alpha -oxido-steroids starting from corresponding 5 Alpha ,6 Beta -dihydroxy steroids. The starting steroids are treated with a fluorinated amine of the formula