Chromatography on lipophilic dextran gels for fractionation of low molecular weight compounds I: steroid digitonides

A method for the separation of 3beta-hydroxysterols from other sterols is presented. The method involves precipitating 3beta-hydroxysterols as the digitonides. The digitonide is then decomposed and separated into components using chromatography on highly cross-linked lipophilic polysaccharide gels. The digitonin in the mother liquor is separated from other sterols using the same chromatographic procedure.