Photolysis of 3-methylcholesta-3, 5-diene (V) in ethanol gave 3-methylenecholest-5-ene (VI), 6β-ethoxy-3α-methyl-3β, 5-cyclo-5β-cholestane (VII), 3β-ethoxy-3α-methylcholest-5-ene (VIII), and 3α-methylcholesterol (VIII a) as well as a number of unidentified hydrocarbons and alcohols. A similar photolysis in pentane, followed by reaction of the resulting 3β, 5; 4α, 6α-bicyclo-5β-cholestane (II a) with ethanol, gave the cyclo ether VII as the only isolable ...