Radiation-induced reactions of cholesterol in an aqueous medium

⁶⁰Co -ray radiolysis of cholesterol /3-hydroxy-5-cholestene/ /I/ in the two-phase system /water-ethyl acetate/ and in the presence of air has been studied using TLC and GC methods. The following products were observed in the irradiated mixture: 3, 7-dihydroxy-5-cholestene /II/, G O. 36, 3-hydroxy-7-keto-5-cholestene /III/, G 1.48, 3-hydroxy-7-keto-5-cholestane /IV/, G 0.22, 3,5,6-trihydroxy-5-cholestane /V/, G 0.83, 5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-5-cholestane /VIa/, G 0.26, 5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-5-cholestane /VIb/, G 0.24, and 2, 3-dihydroxy-5-cholestene /VII/, G 0.22. The dose dependence of the formation of these products shows that the cholesterol derivatives substituted in the position 7 /II–IV/ are formed from a common precursor — the radical Ia. On the other hand, the products of the 5–C=C double bond reactions /V and VI/ are formed independently. Also the product VII is formed independently. A reaction scheme that is in agreement with these results is proposed.