0 XZOAC; Y= H b X, Y=(OCH212 c X= OH, Y= H d X, Y= 0 3-acetate (4a) or the 3-ethylene ketal of (f)-S@-hydroxy-pregnane-3, 20-dione (4b), proceeding by way of the overall process 3-4. The above transformations constitute the first examples of traditional sterol formation by nonenzymic polycyclization of epoxides and the first cases of direct genesis of typical bona fide nonaromatic sterols by any polycyclization routes3 Moreover, the best yield of isolated ...