Oxidation of the known 3-alpha-hydroxy-3-beta-trifluoromethyl-5-beta-19-norpregnan-20-one (I) with lead tetraacetate gave the 21-acetoxy derivative (II). Subsequent hydrolysis of the acetate ester group of (II) using K2CO3 in MeOH furnished the desired alcohol along with some 21-methoxy byproduct, which were chromatographically separated.