A new highly stereoselective synthesis of cerebrosterol, an agonist of the nuclear receptor LXRs

The title compound, cerebrosterol 1, was synthesized stereoselectively (97% d.e.) in 41% overall yield from methyl hyodeoxycholanate 2 in 10 steps with desmosterol acetate 8 as the key intermediate and the modified Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step.