Sodium Hydroxide → 1-N-Amino-4-N-[2'-hydroxy-3'-octadecyloxypropyl]-piperazine

A solution of hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid (0.17 g, 1.5 mmol) in 1:1 tetrahydrofuran-water (10 mL) is added dropwise to a mixture of 1-[2'-hydroxy-3'-octadecyloxypropyl]-piperazine (3.0 g, 7.3 mmol) and sodium hydroxide (0.29 g) in 1:1 tetrahydrofuran-water (30 mL) at 15° C. over a 30 minute period under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resultant mixture is stirred at 15° C. for 2 hours. Three additional portions of NaOH (0.29 g each) are then added to the mixture. The reaction mixture is extracted with dichloromethane, dried over NaOH, concentrated and chromatographed to afford 1-N-Amino-4-N-[2'-hydroxy-3'-octadecyloxypropyl]-piperazine.