X-ray crystallography of cholest-3,5-diene-7-one

The molecular structure of cholest-3,5-diene-7-one (C₂₇H₄₂O) is determined by X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group P2₁2₁2₁) with unit cell parameters a = 11.281(5) Å, b = 11.350(5) Å, c= 18.518(5) Å, and Z = 4. The structure is solved by direct methods and refined to an R-value of 0.054 for 1070 observed reflections F_o > 4σ(F_o)]. Ring A adopts a distorted half-chair conformation, ring B exists in sofa conformation, ring C acquires a chair conformation, and the five-membered ring D occurs in distorted half-chair conformation. The crystal structure is stabilized by van der Waals forces.