In the NMR spectrum of (H), the protons geminal to the acetoxy groups resonate in a weaker field (see Table 1) and are oriented equatorially [9]. Consequently, the OH groups at C 3 and C15 are ~-axially and that at C 6 fl-axially oriented. According to the values of the CS of the protons of the secondary methyl groups [10], the 21-CH 3 group has the c~-equatorial and the 27-CH 3 group the fl-axial orientation.The facts presented permit the structure and configuration of 3~, 16fl, 15~-trihydroxycevanine (1) to be put forward as the most probable for edpetisinine: ~H~