Concerning the structure of 7 alpha,15 beta-dichloro-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol, a novel inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis.

Treatment of 3 beta-p-bromobenzoyloxy-14 alpha,15 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-cholest-7-ene with gaseous HCl in chloroform at -25 degrees C gave 3 beta-p-bromobenzoyloxy-7 alpha,15 beta-dichloro-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene in 93% yield. The structure of the latter compound was unequivocally established by the results of X-ray crystallographic analysis.