title: An efficient asymmetric synthesis of diacylglycerols.
abstract: A convenient preparation of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol or 2,3-diacyl-sn-glycerol is described starting from allyl bromide. The latter was converted to allyl 4-methoxyphenyl ether, which is dihydroxylated using AD-mix as a catalyst to yield 3-O-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-sn-glycerol or 1-O-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-sn-glycerol in high yield and high optical purity. After diacylation, ceric ammonium nitrate was used to remove the 4-methoxyphenyl group under mild conditions that avoid acyl migration to 1,3-dipalmitoylglycerol. Thus chiral 1,2-diacylglycerol can be prepared from allyl bromide in just four steps in 78% overall yield and high enantiomeric excess. This scheme represents an inexpensive method for the large-scale preparation of chiral 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol and 2,3-diacyl-sn-glycerol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College of The City University of New York, Flushing 11367-1597.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vilchèze
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bittman
mesh_terms: D004075:Diglycerides / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008722:Methods
chemical_list: C011439:1,2-diacylglycerol; D004075:Diglycerides