Synthesis of VLC-Pufas relating to macular degenerative diseases

Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFAs) are non-dietary fatty acids that are more than 24 carbons long and include more than one double bond. The specific compound we have focused on is 32:6 n-3: a 32-carbon molecule having 6 cis alkenes with the alkenes beginning at the omega 3 carbon position. These molecules are involved in the membrane structure of the retina and Stargardts disease while being anecdotally linked to age -related macular degeneration (AMD). Both diseases lead to degradation in vision. While Stargardts is an orphan disease, AMD is currently the leading cause of untreatable blindness in the United Sates. While we have completed a total synthesis of 32:6 n-3, optimization is required for scale-up. The final step of the synthesis proceeds in low yield and is labor intensive, promoting a need to develop a new solution such as a simpler purification process or the examination of new reactions.