The compound S 16961-1 was synthesized in three steps from solketal (I) by acylation with nicotinoyl chloride (II), deprotection of the isopropylidene ketal (III) by heating in dilute aqueous acetic acid and acylation of this key intermediate (IV) with a slight excess of palmitoyl chloride (V) in the presence of triethylamine and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as catalyst. The enantiomers of S 16961-1 were obtained independently in one step from the commercially available (d)- and (l)-1,2-dipalmitoyl glycerols by acylation with nicotinoyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The enantiomers were found equiactive and therefore were not pursued individually.