Cholest-6-en-3(β )-ol

Abstract

Plattner, Heusser, Troxler and Segre¹ have recently described the preparation of an interesting new cholesten-3(β )-ol, the acetate of which was said to be formed by the pyrolysis of 3(β )-acetoxycholestan-7-(α)-yl benzoate. On the basis of chemical evidence, the most important aspects of which were the oxidation to 7-ketocholestanyl acetate by chromic acid and the rearrangement by attempted hydrogenation in acetic acid solution to a further new cholesten-3(β )-yl acetate, Plattner and his collaborators considered that their compound had the ethylenic linkage at the 7(8)-position. We have already given² what we consider to be a proof of the correctness of the formulation of γ-type stenols as 7(8)-unsaturated, and therefore we cannot accept the views of Plattner and his associates. A more detailed discussion on this aspect of the situation is given elsewhere³.