There are two alternative synthetic methods that allow phytosphingosine to be synthesised into biologically important sphingosine. Both azide and phthalic acid groups have been used as effective protecting groups for amines in phytosphingosine. The protected phytosphingosine was subsequently converted into sphingosine in five steps, namely amine protection, 1,3-diol protection, leaving group insertion, elimination and one-pot deprotection. The total yield of sphingosine was 25 and 17 per cent, respectively.