Three Raman probes of sphingomyelin (SM) were synthesized and evaluated for their applicability to imaging experiments. One probe containing a hydroxymethyl-1,3-butadiyne moiety in the polar head group showed strong scattering. The solid-state H-2 NMR spectra of this probe in oriented bilayer membrane revealed excellent compatibility with natural SM in phase behavior since the probe undergoes phase separation to form raft-like liquid ordered (L-o) domains in the raft-mimicking mixed bilayers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.