Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 31, 2291-2293, Copyright © 1990 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Preparative scale isolation of sphingosine
NS Radin
Mental Health Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109.
A high-yield method is described for the preparation of sphingenine from
galactosylceramide. Two successive cleavage reactions are used, alkaline
butanol to form galactosylsphingosine, then acidic acetonitrile to form the
sphingenine. A column purification procedure utilizing silica gel is
described. The method is superior to previously described methods in its
rapidity and avoidance of isomerization and contamination by racemization
and rearrangement products.