Rotational isomerism about the 17(20)-bond of steroids and euphoids as shown by the crystal structures of euphol and tirucallol.

The influence of configuration at C-20 on rotation about the 17(20)-bond in steroids and euphoids was examined by x-ray crystallographic studies of the C-20 epimers euphol and tirucallol. The H atom on C-20 was in back next to C-18 in the crystal structures of both of the compounds, and C-22 was found to be cis-oriented ("left-handed") to C-13 in euphol and trans-oriented to it ("right-handed") in tirucallol. The results, which are consistent with the known left-handed crystal structure of 24(25)-dihydroeuphol and right-handed crystal structure of cholesterol and other natural sterols, lend further credence to the earlier suggestion that rotational isomerism at the 17(20)-bond can arise in C-20 epimers and that there is preference for an arrangement with the 20-H atom adjacent to C-18.