Recent advances in cholesterol chemistry

•Substitution of a 3β-hydroxyl group of cholesterol.•Cholesterol oxidation to 3-oxo derivatives.•Addition to the C5–C6 double bond of cholesterol.•Cholesterol reactions at the allylic position.•Formation of new C–C bonds in cholesterol.

This review article presents advances in cholesterol chemistry since 2000. Various transformations (chemical, enzymatic, electrochemical, etc.) of cholesterol are presented. A special emphasis is given to cholesterol oxidation reactions, but also substitution of the 3β-hydroxyl group, addition to the C5–C6 double bond, C–H functionalization, and C–C bond forming reactions are discussed.

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