Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of synthetic ceramides containing phytosphingosine.

Ceramides containing phytosphingosine as base and one of the fatty acids 16:0, 18:0, 20:0, 22:0, 23:0, and 24:0, were prepared by direct coupling in the presence of a mixed carbodiimide. The ceramides were analyzed as the 1,3,4-tri-O-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Gas chromatographic data is presented, and structures of mass spectral ions are suggested. The structures are supported by mass spectra of the homologous ceramides, by deuterium-labeling experiments, and by high resolution mass spectrometry. Some ions, formed by cleavage between C-3 and C-4 in the long-chain base, indicate the phytosphingosine nature of the ceramide.