Synthesis of ceramides NS and NP with perdeuterated and specifically ω deuterated N-acyl residues.

The synthesis of 12 deuterated ceramides with either a deuteration at the last carbon atom of the amide bound fatty acid or a perdeuterated fatty acid chain is described. The ceramides were prepared starting from sphingosine or phytosphingosine and ω deuterated or perdeuterated fatty acids with PyBOP® as activating agent in high yields. For the synthesis of the specifically deuterated fatty acids, dicarboxylic acids were transformed into ω deuterated alkyl bromide, which was chain elongated with blocked ω bromo alcohols by copper catalyzed Grignard coupling. Oxidation of regenerated alcohol function yields the ω deuterated fatty acids.