Beta-eliminative cleavage of 3-ketocerebroside and 3-ketosphingomyelin

3-Ketosphingolipids derived from cerebroside and sphingomyelin were converted to a less polar compound in as weak alkali as 0.0005 M Na₂CO₃ in chloroform-methanol 2 : 1 (v/v). The product was identified as 2-acylamido-3-keto-1,4-octadecadiene by several spectroscopic procedures and cleavage was concluded to occur by beta-elimination. The beta-elimination occurred at above pH 11.5 in aqueous solution. At higher pH values deacylation also occurred. The influence of solvent effects on beta-elimination was studied. This reaction can be used to obtain d oligosaccharides, phosphorycholine and other hydrophilic moieties from sphingolipids.