The crystal structure of 3 beta-hydroxy-4 alpha, 23R, 24R-trimethyl-5 alpha-cholestane (23R, 24R-5 alpha-dinostanol) from dinoflagellates

An x-ray crystal structure determination of a dinostanol from the dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum and zooxanthellae from Orbulina universa was completed. The novel sterol was shown to be 3 beta-hydroxy-4 alpha, 23R,24R-trimethyl-5 alpha-cholestane and may be one of the molecular fossils found in sediment cores from the deepest Black Sea trench.