Abstract
Cholest-2, 4, 6-triene (I), 3, 3'-bicholesta-2, 4, 6, 5'-tetraene (II) and benzoic acid were isolated in the reaction of cholesterol with BPO in carbon tetrachloride, and the substances I and II were observed to color blue on shaking with conc. TCA. It was assumed that I formed initially was further subject to the radical reaction to yield II. It was also presumed that a series of reactions forming the substances I and II should proceed via the addition reaction of benzoxy radical caused by the thermolysis of BPO to cholesterol, resulting the radical dehydration and the radical dehydrogenation. The products I and II should be colored blue by the formation of corresponding cation or carbonium ion. It was found that this color reaction was specific for the steroids with the structure of 5-ene-3-ol or its ester, so that it may be useful for the detection and the determination of them.
