Chain-elongation carboxylic acids

In the synthesis of fatty acids the acetyl irnits are condensed and then are reduced to form straight hydrocarbon chains. In the oxo-acid chain elongation mechanism, the acetyl unit is introduced but is later decarboxylated. Tlius, the chain is increased in length by one carbon atom at a time. These two mechanisms account for a great deal of the biosynthesis by chain extension. However, there are other variations. For example, glycine (a carboxylated methylamine), under the influence of pyridoxal phosphate and with accompanying decarboxylation, condenses with succinyl-CoA (Eq. 14-32) to extend the carbon chain and at the same time to introduce an amino group. Likewise, serine (a carboxylated ethanolamine) condenses with... 

This reaction has been modified using other reagents than diazomethane to elongate the carboxylic acid chain. ... 

Chain elongation of carboxylic acids by one methylene group... 

The Kolbe synthesis of nitriles is an important method for the elongation of an alkyl chain by one carbon center (see also the Arndt-Eistert synthesis). The nitrile 2 can for example easily be converted to the corresponding carboxylic acid by hydrolysis. 

The fatty acid synthesis pathway can be seen to occur in two parts. An initial priming stage in which acetyl-CoA is converted to malonyl-CoA by a carboxylation reaction (Figure 6.9) is followed by a series of reactions which occur on a multi-enzyme complex (MEC), which achieves chain elongation forming C16 palmitoyl-CoA. The whole process occurs in the cytosol. 

Cleavage of the silyl protecting groups under acidic conditions, followed by exposure to MeS03H. results in ketalization of 26 to the pyran-lactol 27 (Figure 8) [20]. To complete the synthesis of the CP compounds, the primary alcohol has to be oxidized to the carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid side chain has to be elongated by means of an Arndt-Eistert reaction. 

Alkylation of Quantitatively Prepared Enolates and Aza-enolates Chain-Elongating Syntheses of Carbonyl Compounds and Carboxylic Acid Derivatives... 

Chain-Elongating Syntheses of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives... 

The de novo synthesis of fatty acids in the mammary gland utilizes mainly acetate and some (3-hydroxybutyrate. These precursors arise from the microbial fermentation of cellulose and related materials in the rumen. Once in the mammary gland, acetate is activated to acetyl-CoA. The mechanism of fatty acid synthesis essentially involves the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which is then used in a step-wise chain elongation process. This leads to a series of short-chain and medium-chain length fatty acids, which differ by two CH2 groups (e.g., 4 0, 6 0, 8 0, etc.) (Hawke and Taylor, 1995). These are straight-chain, even-numbered carbon fatty acids. However, if a precursor such as propionate, valerate or isobutyrate, rather than acetate, is used, branched-chain or odd-numbered carbon fatty acids are synthesised (Jenkins, 1993 see Chapter 2). 

---