(2E)-4, 5-O-Isopropylidene-pentenylic ester (5), obtained in 3 steps from D-mannitol, was subjected to a series of reactions such as asymmetric dihydroxidation, cyclic sulfation and regioselective opening of the cyclic sulfate by NaN3 and finally was transformed into the 2, 3-dibenzoate of (2S, 3R)-sphingosine. The overall yield from D- mannitol was 7.7%. This work has opened a new route to the synthesis of sphingosine and other sphingolipids.

Key words: INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, MASS SPECTROGRAPHY, NMR SPECTROMETRY, MANNITE (=MANNITOL)