Synthetic studies on glycosphingolipids from Protostomia phyla: synthesis of amphoteric glycolipid analogues containing a phosphocholine residue from the earthworm Pheretima hilgendorfi.

Two kinds of amphoteric glycosphingolipid analogues from the earthworm Pheretima hilgendorfi were synthesized as follows: The key reaction is a coupling of a phosphocholine group at the position C-6 of 1 and 6 which was attempted using 2-chloro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane, followed by reaction of the resulting cyclic phosphate intermediate with anhydrous trimethylamine to give 2 and 7. Subsequent debenzylation afforded target compounds (3, 8). Their ability to inhibit the histamine release in vitro was examined.