The four possible isomers of 16‐hydroxymethyl‐3‐methoxyestra‐1,3,5(10)‐trien‐17‐ol were converted into the 16‐tolylsulfonyloxymethyl‐17‐acetoxy esters 1b, 3b, 4b, 7b and into the 16‐tolylsulfonyloxymethyl‐17‐tetrahydropyranyl acetals 1c, 3c, 4c, 7c. On alkaline methanolysis of 1b and 7b, the α and β oxetanes 2 and 8 condensed to the D ring in the sterane skeleton were formed, while 3b and 4b yielded the fragmented product 5. Under similar experimental conditions, the acetals 1c, 3c, 4c, 7c were transformed into the 16‐methoxymethyl derivatives 1d, 3d, 4d, 7d.