Synthesis of sphingolipids with an ω-esterified long acyl chain, ceramide components of the human epidermis.

Esterified ceramides, (2S,3R,4E)-2-[(30'-stearoyloxy)triacontanamido]octadec-4-ene-1,3-diol (2) and (2S,3R,4E,6R)-2-[(30'-stearoyloxy)triacontanamido]octadec-4-ene-1,3,6-triol (4), are minor components of the human stratum corneum. We synthesized these ceramides by employing olefin cross metathesis as the key reaction for constructing their ω-hydroxytriacontanoyl part (13).