p-Toluenesulfonic acid → Ceramide 1

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

p-Toluenesulphonic acid (13.55 g; 71.1 mmoles) was added to a refluxing solution of 27-stearoyloxyheptacosanoic acid (53.45 g; about 77.1 mmoles) and triethylamine (100 ml) in methylene chloride (2 l; free of alcohol) under nitrogen. After refluxing for 1 hour phytosphingosine (18.6 g; purity 94%; 55 mmoles) was added and refluxing was continued for 145 minutes. After cooling the reaction mixture to 30° C. the precipitate was filtered off and washed with methylene chloride (1 l). This solid was dissolved in hot, ethanol-free ##STR10## chloroform and filtered off while warm. The filtrate was allowed to cool. The precipitate formed was filtered off, washed with chloroform (250 ml) and acetone (2×200 ml) and dried in vacuo affording 41 g of the title product.

Provenance & Evidence