Synlett 2005(3): 481-484  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-862361
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of a Ceramide Sphingolipid as a Potential Sex Pheromone of the Hair Crab Erimacrus isenbeckii Using Butane-2,3-diacetal Desymmetrised Glycolic Acid Building Blocks

Darren J. Dixon, Steven V. Ley*, Sophie Lohmann, Tom D. Sheppard
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
Fax: +44(1223)336442; e-Mail: svl1000@cam.ac.uk;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 December 2004
Publication Date:
04 February 2005 (online)

Abstract

A stereoselective synthesis of a ceramide sphingolipid as a potential sex pheromone of the hair crab Erimacrus isenbeckii is reported using diastereoselective alkylation and aldol reactions of butane-2,3-diacetal (BDA) desymmetrised glycolic acid building blocks as the key synthetic steps.

1

New address: D. J. Dixon, Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.

2

New address: T. D. Sheppard, Chemistry Department, University College London, Chirstopher Ingold Laboratories, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.

13

The X-ray structural data for this compound have been deposited with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, reference number CCDC 257805. These data can be obtained free of charge on the web at www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif, or by emailing data_request@ccdc.cam.ac.uk, or by contacting The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 12, Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK; fax: +44(1223)336033.

18

Physical data for pheromone 1, (2S,2′R,3S,4S)-2-(2′-hydroxy-21′-methyl-docosanoylamino)-1,3,4-pentadecanetriol: [α]D 22 +12.5 (c 0.16, CHCl3-MeOH, 1:1) {lit. [α]D 28 +14 (c 0.70, CHCl3-MeOH, 1:1), see ref. [7] ]. IR (film): νmax = 3377 (O-H, N-H), 2917 (C-H), 2850 (C-H), 2480, 1639 (C=O), 1620, 1471, 1049 (C-O) cm-1. 1H NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3-CD3OD, 1:1): δ = 0.82 [6 H, d, J = 6.6 Hz, CH(CH 3 )2], 0.85 (3 H, t, J = 6.6 Hz, CH3), 1.06-1.60 [55 H, br m, 27 × CH2, CH(CH3)2], 1.60-1.69 (1 H, m, H-5), 1.70-1.80 (1 H, m, H-5), 3.50-3.53 (2 H, m, H-4, H-2′), 3.71 (1 H, dd, J = 11.3, 4.8 Hz, H-1), 3.76 (1 H, dd, J = 11.3, 4.8 Hz, H-1), 4.00 (1 H, dd, J = 7.7, 3.7 Hz, H-3), 4.06-4.10 (1 H, m, H-2). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3-CD3OD, 1:1): δ = 13.10, 21.70, 22.00, 24.50, 25.20, 26.80, 27.30, 28.70, 28.88, 28.93, 29.01, 29.03, 29.10, 29.12, 29.30, 31.30, 31.90, 33.90, 38.40, 50.90, 60.30, 71.20, 71.60, 74.60, 175.17. Found (ES): [M - Na]+ 650.5729, C38H77NO5 requires 650.5694.