The structure of 3fl-bromoacetoxy-16a-ethyl-162-cyano-162,21-cyclo-5a-pregna-17,2 l-diene has been determined by the heavy atom method, and has been refined by block-diagonal least squares to a final R of 0"047 for the 1717 observed reflexions. The absolute configuration has also been established. It is concluded from the analysis that this steroid has the 16fl-hydrogen configuration, but previous optical dispe1:si9 n studies have shown that its Cotton effect is strongly negative. This structure, therefore, seems to bethe first authentic example of a cisoid diene which is in contrast to the helicity rule. Theumt,cel! !s orthorhomblc, P212121, with a= 13.484, b=22.730, •c= 7.760/~, and Z=4...-.