l-Proline catalyzed direct diastereoselective aldol reactions: towards the synthesis of lyxo-(2S,3S,4S)-phytosphingosine

l-Proline catalyzed direct diastereoselective aldol reactions of α-amino aldehydes with cyclic ketones have been described and utilized further for the stereoselective synthesis of the 2-amino-1,3,4-triol unit as the phytosphingosines base backbone. This leads to the formal synthesis of (2S,3S,4S)-lyxo-phytosphingosine.