ALPHA-BENZYL-3-BETA,17-BETA-DIHYDROXY-5-ANDROSTENE

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.