Facile and Useful Synthesis of Enantiomeric Phosphatidylcholines

Abstract

The synthesis of optically active phosphatidylcholines (D- and L-4) containing two of the same fatty acid moieties in a molecule is described. Optically pure D-enantiomers (D-4) were obtained from 2, 3-di-O-acyl-sn-glycerol (D-1) in high yield by phosphorylation with phosphorus oxychloride and subsequent treatment with choline tosylate (11a). L-Enantiomers (L-4) were also prepared in a similar manner from 1, 2-di-O-acyl-sn-glycerol (L-1). The whole procedure is easy and useful for the synthesis of enantiomeric phosphatidylcholines.