This compound can be obtained by two different ways: 1) The oxidation of 21-desoxyprednisolone (I) with chromium trioxide and manganous nitrate in acetic acid gives 21-desoxyprednisone (II), which is esterified with propionic anhydride and p-toluenesulfonic acid yielding 21-desoxy-17-O-propionylprednisone (III). Finally, this compound is reduced with KBH4 in DMF - water. 2) The esterification of 21-O-(methanesulfonyl)prednisolone (IV) with acetyl nitrate in acetic acid gives 21-O-(methanesulfonyl)-11-O-nitroprednisolone (V), which is treated with NaI and NaHSO3 in acetic acid yielding the corresponding 21-desoxy nitrate ester (VI). The esterification of (VI) with propionic anhydride as before affords 21-desoxy-11-O-nitro-17-O-propionylprednisolone (VII), which is finally denitrated with Zn powder in acetic acid.