Sphingolipids

Compounds of the general formula (1):

• wherein R represent a linear or branched, saturated, or unsaturated alkyl or alkenyl chain, which may optionally be substituted by hydroxyl, CH3(CH2)mCH═CH—, CH3(CH2)m, wherein m is zero or an integer of from 1 to 20, phenyl, optionally substituted by nitro, amino, alkylamino, acylamino, —NHC(S)NH-alkyl, sulfonylamido-alkyl, a group
• wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 20, or a group —NH-adamantane, —NH-t-BOC, —NH—FMOC or NH—CBZ;
• X represents hydrogen or the group —OR4 in which R4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C1-C6 alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be optionally substituted with hydroxy;
• Y represents —NH2, NHRx wherein Rx is hydrogen, a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be optionally substituted with hydroxy, an amino protecting group,
• —N+R1R2R3, wherein R1, R2 and R3, which may be identical or different each represent C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkenyl, a group
• wherein n is zero or an integer of from 1 to 20, a group —NH-adamantane, a group
• where “polymer” designates a natural or synthetic biocompatible polymer having a molecular weight between 103 and 106 daltons;
• Z represents hydrogen, —OH, a mono- or disaccharide, a monosaccharide sulfate and choline phosphate;
• with the proviso that
• Y cannot represent NH2 when R represents an alkyl, the group CH3(CH2)mCH═CH—, phenyl or nitro phenyl;
• and
• Y cannot represent the groups —NR1R2 or —N+R1R2R3, or NHR4 where R4 represents octyl when R1 represents a methyl, R represents the group CH3(CH2)mCH═CH— and Z represents —OH;
• and isomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.