ACTIVITY - Neuroprotective.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator.    EXAMPLE - 500 ml Isopropyl alcohol was charged into a 2 l 4-necked round bottom flask, connected to a mechanical stirrer, equipped with thermometer socket, addition funnel, and condenser. 50 g 3-Amino-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1-(4-octylphenyl)butane-1,4-diol was added and the mass temperature was raised to 60-65 degrees C. 271 g of isopropyl alcohol-hydrochloride was added at 60-65 degrees C. Maintained the mass temperature at 60-65 degrees C for 4 hours. Isopropyl alcohol was completely distilled off under vacuum at below 70 degrees C. Finally applied high vacuum to completely remove traces of solvent at below 70 degrees C. Cooled the mass temperature to 45-50 degrees C. 200 ml of acetone was added to the residual mass. Raised the mass temperature to reflux and maintained for 30 minutes then cooled the mass temperature to 0-5 degrees C and maintained for 30 minutes. Filtered the solid and washed the solid with 50 ml of chilled acetone and dried at 50-55 degrees C to obtain 2-amino-2-((E/Z)-2-(4-octylphenyl)vinyl)propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride. Then, 50 g 2-amino-2-((E/Z)-2-(4-octylphenyl)vinyl)propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride was dissolved in 1250 ml methanol and the solution was treated with activated carbon and filtered. The filtered solution was transferred into a 2 l 4-necked round bottom flask, connected to a mechanical stirrer, equipped with thermometer socket, gas inlet and condenser. 50 g of 5% palladium on carbon was charged. Hydrogen gas was bubbled in to the reaction mass and the progress and completion of reaction was monitored by HPLC. The catalyst was filtered and washed the utilized bed with 500 ml of methanol. The solvent was completely distilled off under vacuum at below 60 degrees C. Cooled the mass temperature to 45-50 degrees C. 500 ml Acetone was added to remaining mass. Raised the mass temperature to reflux and maintained for 30 minutes. Cooled the mass temperature to 0-5 degrees C and maintained for 30 minutes. Filtered the solid formed and washed the solid with 50 ml of chilled acetone. The crude compound was dissolved in 2200 ml of demineralized water and pH was adjusted to 9.5-10.5 with aqueous ammonia solution. Stirred the mass for 1 hour at 25-30 degrees C. Filtered the solid and washed with 200 ml of demineralized water and dried the compound at 55-60 degrees C under vacuum. The base compound was charged into a flask and added 200 ml of acetone. Added 78 g of 15 wt/wt.% isopropyl alcohol hydrochloride solution and stirred the mass for 1 hour at 25-30 degrees C. Cooled the mass temperature to 0-5 degrees C and maintained for 30 minutes. Filtered the solid and washed the solid with 40 ml of chilled acetone. The thus obtained compound was dissolved in 90 ml of methanol at 55-60 degrees C, 900 ml of ethyl acetate was added at 55-60 degrees C then cooled to 25-30 degrees C and maintained the mass temperature at 25-30 degrees C for 1 hour. Cooled the mass temperature to 0-5 degrees C and maintained for 30 minutes. Filtered the solid and washed the solid with 90 ml of chilled ethyl acetate and dried at 50-55 degrees C under vacuum to obtain 36 g fingolimod hydrochloride (71.5% yield with 99.7% purity).