We report the synthesis of natural ceramide trihexoside, viz. gal (α-1 → 4) gal (β-1 → 4) gluc (β-1 → 1) ceramide (XIII). It involves the Koenigs-Knorr reaction of the bromide II with the aglucon XIX, and of the chloride VII with the D-enantiomer of the ceramide ester XII. A positional isomer of XIII was obtained as a by-product. A novel technique in the Koenings-Knorr reaction is described. © 1978.