A facile synthesis of six 4-iodophenyl tagged sphingosine (SP) derivatives bearing alkyl chain lengths from 6 to 13 is described. The key steps for the assembly of these molecules, 5a–f, are Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling and cross-metathesis reactions. The feasibility of radiolabeling was demonstrated by synthesizing two 125I labeled compounds,[125I] 5c and [125I] 5e. In vitro enzyme assays indicated that the molecules, 5c–e, are potent inhibitors. ...