The stereochemistry of 3β-acetoxy-12α-bromo-13β,28-epoxyoleanan-16α-ol (2b) has been examined by n.m.r. methods and established by an X-ray crystallographic examination. Steric hindrance of the 16α-hydroxy group is shown not to be as great as previously reported. The bromo epoxide (2b), C32H51BrO4, M 579·66, crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P 212121 with a 16·118(2), b 16·615(3), c 11·024(7) Å, V 2952(1) Å3 , Dc(Z = 4) 1·304 g cm-3 , N = N(unique) = 1954, No 1731 [I > 2·5σ(I)], Nvar = 335, conventional R 0· 039, Rw 0·038.