The effect of Raneynickel on triterpenoids in boiling p-cymene has been studied. The following three different types of reactions have been observed: (a) dehydrogenation (oxidation) of the 3-OH group, (b) saturation of the easily reducible double bond, and (c) shifting of the double bond to an adjacent position as in allylic shift. The shift is of reversible nature. A 3-hydroxytriterpenehydrochloride