title: Facile and stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-15-octadecenoic acid and (Z)-16-nonadecenoic acid: monounsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.
abstract: Facile syntheses of the monounsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, (Z)-15-octadecenoic acid and (Z)-16-nonadecenoic acid, are presented. Commercially available hydroxy fatty acids were esterified and oxidised, followed by the Wittig reaction to introduce the omega-3 olefinic bond; hydrolysis yielded the omega-3 fatty acids in high purity. An examination of different reaction conditions for the Wittig step found that THF as solvent and coupling temperatures of -78 degrees C gave optimal stereoselectivity, affording the omega-3 olefins in Z:E ratios >or= 97:3. The syntheses have overall yields of approximately 43%, and utilise straightforward, robust chemistry, that may be readily scaled up and reproduced. Also presented is a method for accurately determining the double bond geometry and isomeric purity of the fatty acid products using 1H-13C-HSQC NMR and GC-MS, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. trawling@pharm.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rawling
authors.forename: Colin C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: Pei H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: C548966:15-octadecenoic acid; C548967:16-nonadecenoic acid; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D009829:Oleic Acids