Lipoxin precursor, synthesis

A class of 5,6,15- and 5,14,15-trioxygenated metabolites of arachidonate has been described by Samuelsson et al. Two of these compounds, termed lipoxins A and B, have recently been assigned the structures shown below. 1 Outlined below is a synthesis of a putative biosynthetic precursor of these compounds. Syntheses of the structures assigned to lipoxins A and B have also been accomplished.3.4... 

The eicosanoids are locally active hormones (autocoids) that are derived from precursor polyunsaturated fatty acids. The rate-limiting step in the synthesis of eicosanoids is the phospholipase-regulated release of arachidonic add from membranes. Arachi-donic acid metabolism may follow one of three possible pathways. In the first, the cydooxygenase- peroxidase pathway leads to the formation of the prostenoids - prostaglandins and thromboxanes. In the second, the lipoxygenase pathway yields the leuko-trienes and lipoxins. A third pathway, the cytochrome P-450 mono oxygenase pathway is also involved in the metabolism of arachidonic add. 

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