Unilever Patent Holdings B.v.

Clive D Richardson

Christopher P Newman

Paul Nicholas Davey

Brian J Hardinge

The invention relates to the preparation of ceramides by a two step process involving conversion of a 2-hydroximino-3-oxo-alkanoate into a 2-alkanoylamido-3-oxo-alkanoate intermediate by acylation of the oxime and reduction of the oxime ester group to an amido group, followed by reduction of the keto and ester group of the intermediate to the 1,3 diol of the ceramide. The oxime acylation and the first reduction may be carried out consecutively or simultaneously. The first reduction is preferably a catalytic hydrogenation and the second reduction is preferably a borohydride reduction. The invention further relates to novel 2-alkanoylamido-3-oxo-alkanoates and 2-alkanoyloximino-3-oxo-alkanoates which are useful as intermediates for conversion into ceramides.

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Aylesford, United Kingdom

Clive D Richardson