An alternative synthesis of 4,4-Dimethyl-5α-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3β-ol, an intermediate in sterol biosynthesis and a reported activator of meiosis and of nuclear orphan receptor LXRα

4,4-Dimethyl-5α-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3β-ol, a sterol of current biological interest, has been synthesized in six steps from 3β-acetoxy-4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one.