Mass spectrometric studies of methyl ether derivatives of sterols

The mass spectrometric fragmentations of fifteen steryl methyl ethers have been recorded. In all cases strong molecular ions were obtained as well as significant variation in the spectra according to the stereochemistry of the A/B ring junction, the presence or absence of Δ⁵ unsaturation, and the position of the unsaturation in the side chain. The highly characteristic mass spectral data coupled with the excellent gas chromatographic properties of steryl methyl ethers indicate their potential value in gas chromatographicmass spectrometric structure analysis.