Organocatalytic route to enantioselective synthesis of ceramide trafficking inhibitor HPA-12

A new organocatalytic approach to the synthesis of ceramide trafficking inhibitor HPA-12 has been described starting from phenacyl bromide. The strategy involves chiral CBS reduction of γ-ketoester and proline-catalyzed α-amination reaction of aldehyde followed by reduction as the key chirality inducing steps.86