Sterol synthesis. Chemical synthesis of 5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta, 14 alpha-diol.

Reported herein is the chemical synthesis of 5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta, 14 alpha-diol by mild Wolff-Kishner reduction of 3 beta-acetoxy-8 alpha, 14 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-cholestan-7-one. The preparation of 5 alpha-cholest-7-en-14 alpha-ol-3-one from 5 alpha is also described. These compounds were fully characterized by the results of infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high and low resolution mass spectral studies.