Oxidative metabolites arachidonic acid, structure

Fig. 12. Metabolism of arachidonic acid by cytochrome P-450 enzymes and the formation of three structurally distinct metabolite families.

Leukotrienes are metabolites of arachidonic acid related to prostaglandins and thromboxanes. They are made in nature (and often in the laboratory) by oxidation of alkenes. The letter (e.g. A) gives the general structure and the subscript number the number of alkenes. They are unstable and control localized physiological phenomena such as blood clotting and inflammation. 

Synthesis of the naturally occurring unsaturated acids sarkomycin, ( ) methylenomycin A, and ( ) coronafacic acid have appeared. The metabolites of arachidonic acid provide an area of natural products chemistry in which total synthesis is playing a vital role. Corey and his co-workers report impressive advances involving synthesis as a means of structural proof, and of stereospecific synthesis to provide large quantities of natural products only available in trace amounts. The synthesis of some oxidation products of arachidonic acid has also appeared. ... 

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