The present invention relates to a new industrial process for the synthesis of solvate- free 17a-acetoxy-11ss-[4-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-phenyl]-19-norpregna-4,9-
diene-3,20-dione [CDB -2914] of formula (I) which is a strong antiprogestogene and antiglucocorticoid agent. The invention also relates to compounds of formula (VII) and (VIII) used as intermediates in the process. The process according to the invention is the following: i) 3-(
ethylene-dioxy)-estra-5(10),9(11)-
diene-17-one of formula (X) is reacted with 
potassium acetilyde formed in situ in dry 
tetrahydrofuran by known method, ii) the obtained 3-(
ethylene-dioxy)-17a-ethynyl-17ss-hydroxy-estra-5(10),9(11)-
diene of formula (IX) is reacted with phenylsulfenyl 
chloride in 
dichloromethane in the presence of 
triethylamine and 
acetic acid, iii) the obtained isomeric mixture of 3-(
ethylene-dioxy)-21-(phenyl-sulfinyl)-19-norpregna-5(10),9(11),17(20),20-tetraene of formula (VIII) is reacted first with 
sodium methoxide in 
methanol, then with 
trimethyl phosphite, iv) the obtained 3-(ethylene-dioxy)-17a-hydroxy-20-methoxy-19-norpregna-5(10),9(11),20-triene of formula (VII) is reacted with 
hydrogen chloride in 
methanol, then v) the obtained 3-(ethylene-dioxy)-17a-hydroxy-19-norpregna-5(10),9(11l); -diene-20- one of formula (VI) is reacted with 
ethylene glycol hi 
dichloromethane in the presence of 
trimethyl orthoformate and p-toluenesulfonic acid by known method, vi) the obtained 3,3,20,20-bis(ethylene-dioxy)-17a-hydroxy-19-norpregna- 5(10),9(11)-diene of formula (V) is reacted with 
hydrogen peroxide in a mixture of 
pyridine and 
dichloromethane in the presence of hexachloroacetone by known method, vii) the obtained 3,3,20,20-bis(ethylene-dioxy)-17a-hydroxy-5,10-
epoxy-19-norpregn-9(11)-ene of formula (IV), containing approximately a 1:1 mixture of 5a,10a- and 5ss,10ss-epoxides, is isolated from the solution and reacted with a 
Grignard reagent obtained from 4-bromo-N,N-dimethyl-
aniline in 
tetrahydrofuran.