Synthesis of benzophenone-containing analogues of phosphatidylcholine

As part of a collaborative study of cellular efflux of cholesterol and phospholipids, photoactivable analogues 4-8 of phosphatidylcholine (PC) having benzophenone groups in the choline moiety and at the end of the C2 and C1 alkyl chains have been synthesized. The efficient preparation via Suzuki coupling of the appropriate long-chain benzophenone-containing carboxylic acid and alcohol and their incorporation by adaptation of known approaches into the acyl- and ether-linked PC analogues 6-8 are described. Development of a method for radiolabeling these PC analogues, via hydrogenation of a double bond in modified side chains, is also described.