Cholest-5-ene-3β,26-diol, isolated from human brain, was further characterized by oxidation to 3-oxocholest-4-en-26-ol and to 3-oxocholest-4-en-26-oic acid. Identification was achieved by comparison (by t.l.c., g.l.c. and g.l.c.–mass spectrometry) with corresponding reference compounds derived from kryptogenin.
