Synthesis and characterization of [1‐13C]‐and d8‐arachidonic acid

Abstract
Methyld8‐ and [1‐13C] 5,8,11,14‐eicosatetraenoate (arachidonate) were prepared from a common synthetic precursor, 4,7,10,13‐nonadecatetrayn‐1‐ol. The purified products were characterized by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Mass spectra oft‐butyldimethylsilyl esters ofd8‐and [1‐13C]‐arachidonic acid showed a most intense [M‐57]+ peak at high mass. The isotopic purity of methyl [1‐13C] arachidonate was 99% and that of methyld8‐arachidonate was 56%. Whend8‐arachidonic acid was prepared by direct deuteration of 5,8,11,14‐eicosatetraynoic acid, the isotopic purity of the sample was 86%.