N, O-Diacetyldeoxojervine, obtained by the Wolff-Kishner reduction of jervine followed by acetylation, has been catalytically hydrogenated to (22S, 25S)-N, 3-O-diacetyl-5α- veratranine-3β, 3β-diol. Irradiation in benzene containing mercury (II) oxide and iodine afforded 20-formyl-17β-ethyl-12α-etiojervan-3β-ol 3-acetate which was converted into 17β- ethyl-3β-hydroxy-12α-etiojervan-20-one 3-acetate by dye-sensitized photo-oxygenation of ...