Synthesis of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylserine from egg phosphatidylcholine by phosphoramidite methodology

A simple chemical method for the synthesis of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylserine (PS), with the same fatty acid composition in the sn-1 and sn-2 glycerol positions as egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), is described. PS synthesis was carried out by a phosphite-triester approach, using 2-cyanoethyl-N,N,N',N'-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite (phosphoramiditate) as the phosphorylating agent, for the formation of phosphate linkage between serine and diacylglycerol. 1,2-Diacylglycerol, obtained from PC hydrolysis by phospholipase C, was coupled with N-t-BOC-L-serinebenzhydryl ester phosphoramidite with tetrazole as catalyst. Phosphite-triester was oxidized to the corresponding phosphate-triester with 30% H2O2 in CH2Cl2. The cyanoethyl group was removed by addition of an Et3N/CH3 CN/pyridine mixture, and trifluoroacetic acid was used to eliminate the protecting groups of O-(1,2-diacylglycero-3-phospho)-N-t-BOC-serinebenzhydryl ester. Purified PS was identified by thin-layer chromatography, infrared, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance.