Two geometric isomers of the aryl hydroxymethyl ketoxime (1,2)(R=C6H5 or p-CH3OC6H4) have been separated. The less soluble compounds 1b, 2b with higher melting points are the E isomers, and the more soluble ones 1a, 2a melted at lower temperature are the Z isomers. During the preparation of 16α-hydroxyestrone oxime, (4a) were obtained. The structures of the isomeric compounds 4a, 5a and their triacetyl derivatives 4b and 5b are proved by spectral analyses. The structure of the isomer 5a has been confirmed by comparison with an authentic sample.

Key words: STEROIDS, OXIME, ISOMER, KETONE