The molecular structure of the title compound, which might be a possible intermediate in the synthesis of 5,10:8,9-diseco-steroids (=steroklastanes), was determined by X-ray analysis. Hydrogen bonding between the 5alpha-hydroxyl group and the 9-oxo function attached to the ten-membered ring, and the presence of two conformational forms of the side-chain in the solid state structure of 2 are established.