The acylation of 11beta,16alpha,17alpha,21-tetrahydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (I) with isobutyric anhydride in pyridine gives the 16,17,21-triester (III), which is condensed with cyclohexanecarbaldehyde (IV) by means of HCl and HClO4 in dioxane yielding the cyclic ketal (Va-b) as a diastereomeric mixture. Finally, this mixture is resolved by preparative HPLC over Lichrosorb RP-18 affording the desired (R)-isomer, the target compound. Alternatively, the monoacylation of the ketal 11beta,16alpha,17alpha,21-tetrahydroxypregan-1,4-diene-3,20-dione 16,17-O-cyclohexylmethylene ketal (VI) with isobutyric anhydride (II) by means of K2CO3 in acetone gives the previously described diastereomeric mixture (Va-b), which is resolved by crystallization in ethanol/water.