To a mixture of 38 g (0.1 mol) of cholesta-1,4,6-trien-3-one and 17 g (0.1 mol) of paratoluenesulfonic acid were added 400 g (4 mol) of isopropenyl acetate, and the mixture was heated under reflux for 3 hours. The reaction solution was thoroughly washed with water until it was neutral, and dried over sodium sulfate A solution of the thus obtained concentrate in 600 ml of ether was added dropwise at a temperature of -5° C. to -10° C. to a reducer solution and stirred at 0° C. for 6 hours, said reducer solution being prepared by cooling a solution of 90 g of calcium chloride in 1,500 ml of methanol to a temperature of -5° C. to -10° C., then adding dropwise thereto a solution of 45 g of sodium borohydride in 2,000 ml of ethanol, and stirring the reaction solution at a temperature of -5° C. to -10° C. for 60 minutes. After completion of the reaction, 50% acetic acid was added to the reaction mixture and the resultant solution was extracted with ether. The ethereal layer separated was washed with water and then sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over sodium sulfate and distilled under reduced pressure to remove ether therefrom. The residue was recrystallized from acetone to yield 23.9 g of cholesta-1,5,7-trien-3-ol (IV), m.p. 126°-127° C. The yield was 63%.
