Title:  Sphingosine 
CAS Registry Number:  123-78-4 
CAS Name:  (2S,3R,4E)-2-Amino-4-octadecene-1,3-diol 
Additional Names:  (E)-D-erythro-4-octadecene-1,3-diol;  1,3-dihydroxy-2-amino-4-octadecene;  4-sphingenine 
Molecular Formula:  C18H37NO2 
Molecular Weight:  299.49 
Percent Composition:  C 72.19%, H 12.45%, N 4.68%, O 10.68% 
Literature References:  Important membrane component; long-chain amino-dialcohol; moiety of certain phosphatides, such as sphingomyelins, cerebrosides, and gangliosides.  Natural sphingosine is D-(+)-erythro-1,3-dihydroxy-2-amino-4-trans-octadecene.  Does not exist in the free state in animals, plants or microorganisms.  First obtained by hydrolysis of cerebrosides from brains:  J. L. W. Thudichum, Die Konstitution des Gehirns des Menschen und der Tiere (Tübingen, 1901).  Separation procedures:  Carter et al., J. Biol. Chem. 170, 269 (1947); Wittenberg, ibid. 216, 379 (1955); Tipton, Biochem. Prep. 9, 127 (1962).  Stereospecific synthesis of DL-erythro-trans-form and isomers:  C. A. Grob, F. Gadient, Helv. Chim. Acta 40, 1145 (1957).  Stereoselective synthesis:  H. Newman, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95, 4098 (1973); B. Bernet, A. Vasella, Tetrahedron Lett. 24, 5491 (1983).  Comprehensive review:  C. A. Grob, Record Chem. Progr. (Kresge-Hooker Sci. Lib.) 18, 55-66 (1957); D. Shapiro, Chemistry of Sphingolipids (Hermann, Paris, 1969) 111 pp.  Bibliography:  Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds Vol. I, part E, S. Coffey, Ed. (Elsevier, New York, 2nd ed., 1976) pp 394-397. 
  
Derivative Type:  DL-Sphingosine  
Properties:  Waxy crystals from ether + pentane, mp 67°. 
Melting point:  mp 67° 
  
Derivative Type:  DL-Triacetylsphingosine  
Molecular Formula:  C24H43NO5 
Molecular Weight:  425.60 
Percent Composition:  C 67.73%, H 10.18%, N 3.29%, O 18.80% 
Properties:  Crystals from pentane + ether, mp 91-92°. 
Melting point:  mp 91-92° 
  
Derivative Type:  Triacetyl derivative of natural sphingosine  
Molecular Formula:  C24H43NO5 
Molecular Weight:  425.60 
Percent Composition:  C 67.73%, H 10.18%, N 3.29%, O 18.80% 
Properties:  Crystals, mp 101-102°.  [a]D25 -11.7° (chloroform). 
Melting point:  mp 101-102° 
Optical Rotation:  [a]D25 -11.7° (chloroform) 
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