The even numbered C2-C22 saturated and some Ci8 unsaturated fatty acid esters of ß-and 7-sitosterol, stigmasterol, their saturated analogs, and ergosterol were prepared by treating the corresponding acid chloride or anhydride with the sterol in the presence of pyridine in an inert solvent. Adsorption chromatographic purification of the steryl esters was essential if contamination with free sterols was to be avoided. In all cases the melting points of the esters were relatively sharp and decreased with increasing molecular weight of the fatty acid till a minimum was reached in the myristate-palmitate region, after which they increased. The introduction of a double bond into the fatty acid residue produced a 37 to 45°d rop in the melting point when compared with the corresponding saturated ester. Additional double bonds brought about a further decrease but of lower magnitude. During melting the anisotropic solids were observed to change cleanly into isotropic liquids, and the temperature range required for this transformation broadened with increasing chain length of the fatty acid. Only

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