Methyl ester acetates of bile acids provide many exampl'es in which the 3-acetate group is saponified in preference to the 7 or 12-acetate groups. One per cent. hydrogen chloride in methanol'or 0.5 N potassium hydroxide in alcohol2 brings about hydrolysis of the 3-acetoxy group without affecting the ester group. Half normal alkali in aqueous-alcoholic solution saponified both the 3-acetoxy group and the ester group. It seemed reasonable to expect ...
