Glycerol surfactants synthesized from

Ethers can be prepared by the reaction of an alkoxide with an alkyl halide. Both of these reactants are synthesized from alcohols so that ethers may be considered to be produced indirectly from the respective alcohols. Due to the number of hydroxyl groups attached to glycerol, the possibility of generating polymers exists. The formation of polyglycerol, the polyether of glycerol, is of commercial interest and finds applications in surfactants when the number of... 

Phospholipid fatty acids may be redistributed, after they are synthesized, in response to varying environmental conditions or needs. Lung surfactant is one such phospholipid with redistributed fatty acids. Lung surfactant contains some 50% to 60% of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, a form of phosphatidylcholine in which palmitoyl chains occupy both positions 1 and 2 on the glycerol. Phospholipids are usually synthesized with an unsaturated fatty acid on position 2, so some modification has likely occurred. Phospholipases may be involved in the modification, because they can remove fatty acids from phospholipids. 

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