Synthesis and Characterization of Long-Chain Tartaric Acid Diamides as Novel Ceramide-Like Compounds

Abstract

Ceramides play a crucial role in the barrier function of the skin as well as in transmembrane signaling. In this study long aliphatic chain tartaric acid diamides able to replace ceramides in an in vitro model of the stratum corneum lipid matrix due to their similar physico-chemical properties were synthesized from diacetoxysuccinic anhydride in four steps. Their pro-apoptotic effect on fibroblast cells was also investigated.