Abstract An efficient synthesis of d-erythro-sphingosine and-ceramide from d-xylose or d- galactose is described. A mixture of 2, 4-O-isopropylidene-d-threose and its formate, which is available in one step from 3, 5-O-isopropylidene-d-xylofuranose or 4, 6-O-isopropylidene- d-galactopyranose, was subjected to the Wittig alkenation with triphenylphosphonio-tetra- and-hexa-decylid. The resulting 1, 3-O-isopropylidenated C 18 and C 20 alkenes were ...