Abstract. C22H2gO2, Mr= 324.46, monoclinic, P2 l, a=6.653(1), b= 18.413(1), c=7.9653(8)A, fl= 107-49 (1) °, V= 930.6 (2) A 3, Z = 2, Dx= 1.158gcm -3, 2(MoKa) =0.71073/~, /z (MoKa) = 0.7 cm -l, F(000) = 352, room temperature, R = 0.053 for 1910 unique reflections with I > 2.50(/). The ethyl group is in the usual trans conformation relative to the C/D ring junction. The A ring is statistically disordered (1:1) and shows a normal la,2fl-half-chair as well as an inverted lfl,2a-half-chair conformation. Molecular mechanics gives a steric energy difference of 4 kJ mo1-1 between the minimized normal and inverted half-chair structures in favour of the normal l a,2fl-half-chair conformation. The steroid molecules are hydrogenbonded head to tail.