Asymmetric synthesis of the stereoisomers of 11,12,15(S)-trihydroxyeicosa-5(Z),8(Z),13(E)-trienoic acid, a potent endothelium-derived vasodilator

The four stereoisomers of the endothelial-derived vasorelaxant 11,12,15(S)-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [1, 11,12,15(S)-THETA] were prepared by a triply convergent, asymmetric route that exploited the stereospecific, copper mediated cross-coupling of alpha,beta-dialkoxystannanes with organic electrophiles and the utility of dialkylthionocarbamates as orthogonal alcohol protective groups. Only 11(R),12(S),15(S)-THETA was comparable to natural material by HPLC, GC/MS, and in vitro bioassay.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadeca-6,10,12-trienoic acid, (8Z,12E,14Z)-eicosa-8,12,14-trienoic acid,and their [1-14C]-radiolabeled analogs

To study the metabolic fate of conjugated linoleic acid isomers, we synthesized, in seven steps, from 1-heptyne, (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadeca-6,10,12-trienoic acid, (8Z,12E,14Z)-eicosa-8,12,14-trienoic acid, and their [1-(14)C]-analogs. In the case of (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadecatrienoic acid, a series of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between 1-heptyne and (E)-1,2-dichloro-ethene, a coupling reaction with a Grignard reagent and cleavage of the dioxolane gave (E)-dodec-4-en-6-ynal 3. Stereoselective Wittig reaction between aldehyde 3 and triphenyl-[5-(tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-pentyl]-phosphonium provided a dienyne. Stereocontrolled reduction of the triple bond and replacement of the tetrahydropyranyl group by a bromine gave (5Z,9E,11Z)-1-bromo-heptadeca-5,9,11-triene 10. Formation of the alkenyl lithium derivative and carbonation with CO(2) furnished (6Z,10E,12Z)-octadecatrienoic acid. (8Z,12E,14Z)-eicosa-8,12,14-trienoic acid was obtained by the same route but using triphenyl-[5-(tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-heptyl]-phosphonium iodide for the Wittig reaction. [1-(14)C]-analogs were obtained from the bromides by carbonation with (14)CO2. In all cases, chemical or radiochemical purities were found to be better than 95% after purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (>99% after additional purification by RP-HPLC). Metabolism studies in animals are in progress.     

Large-scale preparation of (9Z,12E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid, (9Z,12Z,15E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid and their [1-(13)C] all-cis isomers

Several grams of labelled trans linoleic and linolenic acids with high chemical and isomeric purities (>97%) have been prepared for human metabolism studies. A total of 12.5 g of (9Z, 12E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid and 6.3 g of (9Z,12Z, 15E)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid were obtained in, respectively, seven steps (7.8% overall yield) and 11 steps (7% overall yield) from 7-bromo-heptan-1-ol. The trans bromo precursors used for the labelling were synthesised by using copper-catalysed couplings. The trans fatty acids were then obtained via the nitrile derivatives. A total of 23.5 g of (9Z,12Z)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9, 12-dienoic acid and 10.4 g of (9Z,12Z,15Z)-[1-(13)C]-octadeca-9,12, 15-trienoic acid were prepared in five steps in, respectively, 32 and 18% overall yield. Large quantities of bromo and chloro precursors were synthesised from the commercially available acid according to Barton's procedure. In all cases, the main impurities (>0.5%) of each labelled fatty acid have been characterised.     

Practical, asymmetric synthesis of 16-hydroxyeicosa-5(Z),8(Z), 11(Z),14(Z)-tetraenoic acid (16-HETE), an endogenous inhibitor of neutrophil activity

An asymmetric synthesis of 16-HETE, an endogenous inhibitor of neutrophil activity, was achieved in six steps from R-(-)-glycidyl benzyl ether in 28% overall yield.     

Synthesis of methyl (5S,6R,7E,9E,11Z,13E,15S)-16-(4-fluorophenoxy)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-hexadecatetraenoate,an analogue of 15R-lipoxin A4

We describe a method for the synthesis of methyl (5S,6R,7E,9E,11Z,13E,15S)-16-(4-fluorophenoxy)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-hexadecatetraenoate, a compound that has been described as a metabolically stable analogue of 15R-lipoxin A(4).     

Vanadium-catalyzed transformation of 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z), 11(E)-octadecadienoic acid: Structural studies on epoxy alcohols and trihydroxy acids

Treatment of methyl 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z), 11(E)-octadecadienoate with vanadium oxyacetylacetonate led to the formation of two diastereometric α,β-epoxy alcohols, i.e. methyl 11(R), 12(R)-epoxy-13(S)-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoate and methyl 11(S), 12(S)-epoxy-13(S)-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoate. The epoxy alcohols underwent spontaneous hydrolysis into isomeric trihydroxyesters. The first mentioned epoxy alcohol afforded methyl 9(R), 12(S), 13(S)- and methyl 9(S), 12(S), 13(S)-trihydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoates as major hydrolysis products whereas the latter epoxy alcohol afforded methyl 9(R), 12(R), 13(S)- and methyl 9(S), 12(R)-13(S)-trihydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoates as major compounds. Smaller amounts of diastereomeric methyl 11,12,13-trihydroxy-9-octadecenoates were also formed from both epoxy alcohols. The vanadium-catalyzed conversion of 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (13(S)HPOD) (methyl ester) into α,β-epoxy alcohols and their further conversion into trihydroxy derivatives offers a model system for similar transformations of certain poly-unsaturated fatty acids recently described in the fungus, Saprolegnia parasitica.     

Spatial requirements for 15-(R)-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,11Z, 13E-eicosatetraenoic acid synthesis within the cyclooxygenase active site of murine COX-2. Why acetylated COX-1 does not synthesize 15-(R)-hete

The two isoforms of cyclooxygenase, COX-1 and COX-2, are acetylated by aspirin at Ser-530 and Ser-516, respectively, in the cyclooxygenase active site. Acetylated COX-2 is essentially a lipoxygenase, making 15-(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) and 11-(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (11-HETE), whereas acetylated COX-1 is unable to oxidize arachidonic acid to any products. Because the COX isoforms are structurally similar and share approximately 60% amino acid identity, we postulated that differences within the cyclooxygenase active sites must account for the inability of acetylated COX-1 to make 11- and 15-HETE. Residues Val-434, Arg-513, and Val-523 were predicted by comparison of the COX-1 and -2 crystal structures to account for spatial and flexibility differences observed between the COX isoforms. Site-directed mutagenesis of Val-434, Arg-513, and Val-523 in mouse COX-2 to their COX-1 equivalents resulted in abrogation of 11- and 15-HETE production after aspirin treatment, confirming the hypothesis that these residues are the major isoform selectivity determinants regulating HETE production. The ability of aspirin-treated R513H mCOX-2 to make 15-HETE, although in reduced amounts, indicates that this residue is not an alternate binding site for the carboxylate of arachidonate and that it is not the only specificity determinant regulating HETE production. Further experiments were undertaken to ascertain whether the steric bulk imparted by the acetyl moiety on Ser-530 prevented the omega-end of arachidonic acid from binding within the top channel cavity in mCOX-2. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to change Val-228, which resides at the junction of the main cyclooxygenase channel and the top channel, and Gly-533, which is in the top channel. Both V228F and G533A produced wild type-like product profiles, but, upon acetylation, neither was able to make HETE products. This suggests that arachidonic acid orientates in a L-shaped binding configuration in the production of both prostaglandin and HETE products.     

Identification of guinea pig eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis as leukotriene B4 and 8(S),15(S)-dihydroxy-5,9,11,13(Z,E,Z,E)-eicosatetraenoic acid.

We have purified and characterized the guinea pig eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A), an activity previously described in diffusates from sensitized lung challenged with specific Ag that appeared to selectively attract eosinophils from mixed leukocyte populations. Time course studies showed that the release of ECF-A from challenged presensitized guinea pig lung fragments closely paralleled the release of immunoreactive leukotriene B4 (iLTB4) and histamine. However, the majority of ECF-A (greater than 80%) and iLTB4 (greater than 79%) was extractable with the lipid fraction from the methanol wash of Sep-Pak-extracted diffusate, whereas histamine remained in the aqueous phase. A comparable neutrophil chemotactic activity was also found in the methanol extracts of the anaphylactic diffusates. By using a combination of HPLC and specific RIA, greater than 60% of ECF-A was attributable to LTB4. A second eosinophil chemotactic activity was also identified and coeluted (on both reverse phase and straight phase HPLC) with the synthetic standard 8(S),15(S)-dihydroxy-5,9,11,13(Z,E,Z,E)eicosatetraenoic acid (8(S),15(S)-diHETE). This was confirmed as 8(S),15(S)-diHETE by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Platelet-activating factor and histamine had negligible activity for guinea pig eosinophils, compared with synthetic LTB4 (p less than 0.05, 10(-9) and 10(-8) M; p less than 0.01, 10(-7) to 5 x 10(-6) M). In addition, synthetic 8(S),15(S)-diHETE had 3 times less activity than LTB4 at optimal chemotactic concentrations (10(-6) and 10(-7) M, respectively). Thus, guinea pig ECF-A appears to be largely attributable to lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid, namely LTB4 and 8(S),15(S)-diHETE. Because guinea pig ECF-A was equally active on neutrophils (greater than 96% purity), it can no longer be considered a selective eosinophil chemoattractant.     

On the steric course of the microbial generation of (Z6)-gamma-dodecenolactone from (10R,S) 10-hydroxy-octadeca-(E8, Z12)-dienoic acid

Summary (Z6)-gamma-dodecenolactone samples produced endogenously inFusarium poae and biogenerated from (10R, S) 10-hydroxy-octadeca-(E8, Z12)-dienoic acid inCladosporium suaveolens show (R) and (S) configurations, respectively.     

Characterization of 9-fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase-like activity in germinating barley seeds that transforms 9(S)-hydroperoxy-10(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid into 2(E)-nonenal

Previously, we reported that 2(E)-nonenal, having a low flavor threshold (0.1 ppb) and known as the major contributor to a cardboard flavor (stale flavor) in stored beer, is produced by lipoxygenase-1 and a newly found factor named 9-fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase-like (9-HPL-like) activity in malt. To assess the involvement of 9-HPL-like activity in beer staling, we compared the values of the wort nonenal potential, an index for predicting the staleness of beer, with the lipoxygenase and 9-HPL-like activity of 20 commercial malts. There was a significant correlation between the malt 9-HPL-like activity and the values of wort nonenal potential (r=0.53, P<0.05), while the correlation between malt lipoxygenase activity and the wort nonenal potential was statistically insignificant. Analysis of the partially purified 9-HPL-like activity from embryos of germinating barley seeds indicated that 9-HPL-like activity consisted of fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase and 3Z:2E isomerase.     

12-Hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 10E, 14Z,eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) stimulates cAMP production in normal human fibroblasts

We report here that the 12-lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, 12-hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 10E, 14Z, eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), stimulates cAMP production in human fibroblasts among various cultured cell lines tested. Although 12-HETE seemed to stimulate the phospholipase C (PLC)-protein kinase C (PKC) system, inhibitors against PLC and PKC did not reduce the cAMP production induced by 12-HETE, indicating that the activation of PLC-PKC system is not positively coupled with the stimulation of cAMP production. On the other hand, the cAMP production induced by 12-HETE was dependent on the Ca²⁺/calmodulin system in the cells. The results suggest that 12-HETE specifically stimulates Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent adenylyl cyclase to increase cAMP level in the fibroblasts. J Cell Physiol 178:63–68, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis of 11,12-leukotriene A4, 11S,12S-oxido-5Z,7E,9E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid, a novel leukotriene of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway

A simple and efficient method for preparing 11,12-leukotriene A4 has been established by the stereospecific biomimetic route from arachidonic acid. 12S-Hydroperoxy-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid was synthesized using a partially purified 12-lipoxygenase of porcine leukocytes. The methyl ester of the compound was then chemically converted to two labile epoxides with a conjugated triene structure. These compounds were identified by proton NMR and mass spectrometry to be 11S,12S-oxido-5Z,7E,9E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (11,12-leukotriene A4) and its geometric isomer.     

First total syntheses of (Z)-15-methyl-10-hexadecenoic acid and the (Z)-13-methyl-8-tetradecenoic acid

The first total syntheses for the (Z)-15-methyl-10-hexadecenoic acid and the (Z)-13-methyl-8-tetradecenoic acid were accomplished in seven steps and in 31-32% overall yields. The (trimethylsilyl)acetylene was the key reagent in both syntheses. It is proposed that the best synthetic strategy towards monounsaturated iso methyl-branched fatty acids with double bonds close to the omega end of the acyl chain is first acetylide coupling of (trimethylsilyl)acetylene to a long-chain bifunctional bromoalkane followed by a second acetylide coupling to a short-chain iso bromoalkane, since higher yields are thus obtained. Spectral data is also presented for the first time for these two unusual fatty acids with potential as biomarkers and as topoisomerase I inhibitors.     

Free radical oxidation of coriolic acid (13-(S)-hydroxy-9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid)

The reaction of (13S,9Z,11E)-13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (1a), one of the major peroxidation products of linoleic acid and an important physiological mediator, with the Fenton reagent (Fe(2+)/EDTA/H(2)O(2)) was investigated. In phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, the reaction proceeded with >80% substrate consumption after 4h to give a defined pattern of products, the major of which were isolated as methyl esters and were subjected to complete spectral characterization. The less polar product was identified as (9Z,11E)-13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoate (2) methyl ester (40% yield). Based on 2D NMR analysis the other two major products were formulated as (11E)-9,10-epoxy-13-hydroxy-11-octadecenoate (3) methyl ester (15% yield) and (10E)-9-hydroxy-13-oxo-10-octadecenoate (4) methyl ester (10% yield). Mechanistic experiments, including deuterium labeling, were consistent with a free radical oxidation pathway involving as the primary event H-atom abstraction at C-13, as inferred from loss of the original S configuration in the reaction products. Overall, these results provide the first insight into the products formed by oxidation of 1a with the Fenton reagent, and hint at novel formation pathways of the hydroxyepoxide 3 and hydroxyketone 4 of potential (patho)physiological relevance in settings of oxidative stress.     

Synthesis of (6Z,9Z,11E)-octadecatrienoic and (8Z,11Z,13E)-eicosatrienoic acids and their [1-(14)C]-radiolabeled analogs

In order to study the metabolic pathway and the physiological effects of 9c,11t-18:2 (major isomer of conjugated linoleic acid) and its C(18:3) and C(20:3) metabolites, 6c,9c,11t-18:3 and 8c,11c,13t-20:3 and their [1-(14)C]-radiolabeled analogs were prepared stereoselectively by total synthesis. The 8c,11c,13t-20:3 was obtained in 11 steps. The synthesis involves a highly stereoselective Wittig reaction between 3-(t-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)propanal and the ylide of 7-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)heptanylphosphonium salt which gave (3Z)-1-(t-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)-10-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)dec-3-ene in a first step. Then the t-butyldiphenylsilyl derivative was deprotected selectively and the resulting alcohol function was converted via a bromide into a phosphonium salt. The second stereoselective Wittig condensation between the phosphonium salt and commercial (2E)-non-2-enal under cis-olefinic conditions using Lithium hexamethyldisilazide as base afforded the (7Z,10Z,12E)-1-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)nonadeca-7,10,12-triene in a very good isomeric purity. The intermediate product was brominated and transformed by reaction with magnesium into Grignard reagent, which was one-carbon elongated by unlabeled or labeled carbon dioxide to obtain the 8c,11c,13t-20:3 in good isomeric purity (95%) and high radiochemical purity for its [1-(14)C]-radiolabeled analog (99%). 6c,9c,11t-18:3 was synthesized in a similar way by using 5-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)pentanylphosphonium salt in place of 7-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)heptanylphosphonium salt in a first step. Other reactions were unchanged and products were obtained in similar yields. Similar to 8c,11c,13t-20:3, the 6c,9c,11t-18:3 was obtained in a very good isomeric purity (95%) and its [1-(14)C]-radiolabeled analog in a high radiochemical purity (95%).     

A one-step method of 10,17-dihydro(pero)xydocosahexa-4Z,7Z,11E,13Z,15E,19Z-enoic acid synthesis by soybean lipoxygenase

A product of lipoxygenase (LOX) oxidation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 10,17-dihydro(pero)xydocosahexa-4Z,7Z,11E,13Z,15E,19Z-enoic acid [10,17(S)-diH(P)DHA] was obtained through various reaction pathways that involved DHA, 17(S)-hydro(pero)xydocosahexa-4Z,7Z,11Z,13Z,15E,19Z-enoic acid [17(S)-H(P)DHA], soybean lipoxygenase (sLOX), and potato tuber lipoxygenase (ptLOX) in various combinations. The structure of the product was confirmed by HPLC, ultraviolet (UV) light spectrometry, GC-MS, tandem MS, and NMR spectroscopy. It has been found that 10,17(S)-diH(P)DHA formed by sLOX through direct oxidation of either DHA or 17(S)-H(P)DHA was apparently identical to the product of ptLOX oxidation of the latter. The sLOX- and ptLOX-derived samples of 10,17-diHDHAs coeluted under the conditions of normal, reverse, and chiral phase HPLC analyses, displayed identical UV absorption spectra with maxima at 260, 270, and 280 nm, and had similar one-dimensional and two-dimensional proton NMR spectra. Analysis of their NMR spectra led to the conclusion that 10,17-diHDHA formed by sLOX had solely 11E,13Z,15E configuration of the conjugated triene fragment, which was identical to the previously published structure of its ptLOX-derived counterpart. Based on the cis,trans geometry of the reaction products, the conclusion is made that in the tested conditions sLOX catalyzed direct double dioxygenation of DHA. Compared with the previously described two-enzyme method that involved sLOX and ptLOX, the current simplified one-enzyme procedure uses only sLOX as the catalyst of both dioxygenation steps.     

Synthesis of (S)-13-Hydroxy (2E,4E,8E)- and (2E,4E,8Z)-Tetradecatrienoic Acids

The syntheses of (S)-13-hydroxy-(2E,4E,8E)-tetradecatrienoic acid (1) and (2E,4E,8Z)-tetradecatrienoic acid (2) were carried out by using the Wittig reaction as the key step. The asymmetric center at C-13 and the double bond between C-8 and C-9 for natural compound 1 were reconfirmed as being of (S) configuration and E, respectively.

The relationship between the structure of the unsaturated hydroxy fatty acids and their inhibitory effect on the growth of lettuce was investigated.     

Rearrangement of 5S, 12S-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-(E,Z,E,Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid during gas chromatography: formation of a cyclohexadiene derivative

The 5S, 12S-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-(E,Z,E,Z,)-eicosatetraenoic acid, a product of double dioxygenation of arachidonic acid by lipoxygenases, undergoes severe decomposition during gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of the trimethylsilyl ether methyl ester derivative. The decomposition product was studied by GC-MS and identified as a cyclohexadiene derivative of the parent compound formed by ring closure at C6 and C11. Under identical GC conditions, two stereoisomers, i.e. 5S,12R-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-(Z,E,E,Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (leukotriene B4), and 6-trans-leukotriene B4 showed excellent chromatographic properties. These data indicated that the 5,12-dihydroxy derivative of arachidonic acid carrying the trans-cis-trans triene unit selectively undergoes cyclization during GC. These studies also provided an explanation to the controversial GC-MS data reported for this lipoxygenase product.     

Photolysis of unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxides. 4. Fatty acid products from the aerobic decomposition of methyl 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoate dissolved in cyclohexane

In the presence of oxygen, UV-irradiation of a solution of methyl 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoate (13-HPOD) in cyclohexane leads to a broad pattern of reaction products of which a trihydroxyene, seven epoxyhydroxides, four hydroxydienes, four epoxyhydroperoxides, six oxodienes and an epoxycyclohexylene were identified as the main components. Two oxodienes having a (Z)-double bond adjacent to the carbonyl group and the epoxycyclohexylene are reported for the first time. In contrast to results published recently for the UV-degradation of the 13-HPOD in methanol, the decomposition of the 13-HPOD in cyclohexane results in the formation of the 9-HPOD by a rearrangement of the hydroperoxy group. Consequently the reaction products are formed as mixtures of positional isomers. The reaction pathways leading to the identified compounds are discussed.