Heterocyclic steroids: Synthetic routes and biological characteristics of steroidal fused bicyclic pyrimidines

Natural steroids are characterized as a vital class of compounds, a type of secondary metabolites and components of cell membranes that widely accessible in plants or animals displayed significant pharmacological and varied biological properties. The present study aims to highlight the conveyed researches of synthetic routes adopted to obtain the various structures of steroidal fused bicyclic pyrimidines with substantial biological and pharmaceutical importance. The topic was discussed in light of the synthesis of fused [6 + 5] bicyclic systems, fused [6 + 6] bicyclic systems, binary heterocycles, and biological applications. In detail, the various synthetic strategies for the construction of steroids fused to bicyclic pyrazolopyrimidines, thiazolopyrimidines, triazolopyrimidines, pyridopyrimidines, pyranopyrimidines, and binary pyrimidines were discussed. Heterocyclic steroids of this class of compounds demonstrated potent anticancer, anti‐proliferative, anti‐neuro‐inflammatory, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐ulcer activities. It was perceived that the synthetic steroids of such bicyclic pyrimidine scaffolds are fused into the steroid basic skeleton is essential for the potent bioactivities.