The asymmetric unit of the title compound, 17alpha-benzyl-5-androst-5-
ene-3beta,17beta-diol, C26H36O2, contains two molecules, which differ
slightly in the conformation of the D ring. Of the four OH groups in t
he two symmetry-independent molecules, A and B, three participate in O
-H ... O hydrogen bonding. Crystal packing involves molecules of A for
ming helix-like chains along the b axis, with hydrophobic loops occupi
ed by one part of the B molecules; their other parts are involved in h
ydrogen-bonded bridges to the neighbouring chains.