Lophenol,cholest-4α-methyl-7-en-3β-ol(1),obtainedfromDracaenacochinchinensis(Lour.)S.C.Chen,wasstructurallymodified.Itwasacetylatedtoprotect3β-hydroxylgroup,andthenoxidisedbyseleniumdioxideinaceticacidtogivecholest-4a-methyl-8-en-3β,Ta-dioldiacetate(3).Thiscompound3isunstableinchloroformsolutionorwhenheatedandeasilyconvertedtoadienecompound,cholest-4a-methyl-7,14-dien-3β-olacetate(4).Thestructuresof3and4wereelucidatedbymeansofIR,^1HNMR,^13CNMRandMS,andtheabsoluteconfigurationof3wasestablishedbyX-raycrystallography.Thepropertyof3wasalsodiscussedinthispaper.Both3and4arenewcompoundsandwerereportedforthefirsttime.
