Marine sterols. IX. Occurrence of 24 xi-methylcholestane-1 beta, 3 beta, 5 alpha, 6 beta, 25-pentol 25-monoacetate in the soft coral, Sarcophyton glaucum.

The southern Japan's soft coral, Sarcophyton glaucum, was found to contain several polyhydroxylates steroids. One of the minor components was isolated and its structure was established as 24 xi-methylcholestane-1 beta, 3 beta, 5 alpha, 6 beta, 25-pentol 25-monoacetate from spectral evidence and from comparison with a reference compound, 5 alpha-spirostan-1 beta, 3 beta, 5 alpha, 6 beta-tetrol, which was synthesized from ruscogenin. A mixture of 1 beta, 3 beta, 5 alpha, 6 beta-tetra hydroxy C27- and C28-sterols was also isolated.