Efficient synthesis of methanesulphonate-derived lipid chains for attachment of proteins to lipid membranes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/00397910802213794

We have developed an easy and flexible synthetic methodology to obtain lipid chains containing methanothiosulfonate terminal groups with the aim to attach them to natural proteins as functional groups. There are many proteins found in nature that are modified by lipids, and this is a key part of their function. For example, the prion protein is attached to the plasma membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, and this protein is thought to be the causative agent in diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE; "mad cow disease") and the human equivalent Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, production of large amounts of protein in bacteria results in proteins that lack these lipid modifications. The lipid chains containing methanothiosulfonate terminal groups that we have synthesized here can be attached to these proteins through the thiol contained in the side chain of the cysteine residue, which can be incorporated into the protein sequence at the desired position. Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Full text of DOI:10.1080/00397910802213794

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Efficient Synthesis of
Methanesulphonate-Derived
Lipid Chains for Attachment of
Proteins to Lipid Membranes
Matthew R. Hicks a b , Atvinder K. Rullay a , Rosa
Pedrido c , David H. Crout a & Teresa J. T. Pinheiro a
a Department of Biological Sciences, University of
Warwick, Coventry, UK
b Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick,
Coventry, UK
c Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of
Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela,
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
Version of record first published: 14 Oct 2008.
To cite this article: Matthew R. Hicks , Atvinder K. Rullay , Rosa Pedrido , David
H. Crout & Teresa J. T. Pinheiro (2008): Efficient Synthesis of Methanesulphonate-
Derived Lipid Chains for Attachment of Proteins to Lipid Membranes, Synthetic
Communications: An International Journal for Rapid Communication of Synthetic
Organic Chemistry, 38:21, 3726-3750
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Synthetic Communications1, 38: 3726–3750, 2008
Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0039-7911 print=1532-2432 online
DOI: 10.1080/00397910802213794
Efficient Synthesis of Methanesulphonate-
Derived Lipid Chains for Attachment of Proteins
to Lipid Membranes
Matthew R. Hicks,1,2 Atvinder K. Rullay,1 Rosa Pedrido,3
David H. Crout,1 and Teresa J. T. Pinheiro1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry , UK
2Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
3Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of
Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
Abstract: We have developed an easy and flexible synthetic methodology to
obtain lipid chains containing methanothiosulfonate terminal groups with the
aim to attach them to natural proteins as functional groups. There are many pro-
teins found in nature that are modified by lipids, and this is a key part of their
function. For example, the prion protein is attached to the plasma membrane
via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, and this protein is thought to
be the causative agent in diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE; ‘‘mad cow disease’’) and the human equivalent Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.
However, production of large amounts of protein in bacteria results in proteins
that lack these lipid modifications. The lipid chains containing methanothiosulfo-
nate terminal groups that we have synthesized here can be attached to these pro-
teins through the thiol contained in the side chain of the cysteine residue, which
can be incorporated into the protein sequence at the desired position.
Keywords: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol, GPI-anchor, prion
Received April 30, 2008.
Address correspondence to Teresa J. T. Pinheiro, Department of Biological
Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. E-mail: t.pinheiro@
warwick.ac.uk
3726

Lipid Chain Synthesis
INTRODUCTION
3727
It has been possible for a number of years to engineer bacteria to produce
proteins from other organisms. This recombinant technology has enabled
structural biologists to produce sufficient quantities of proteins (milli-
grams) to determine structural features of these biological polymers.
However, many proteins in higher organisms are modified by the addi-
tion of other functional groups to either amino acid side chains or to
the amino or carboxyl termini of the polymer.[1] Proteins produced in
bacteria are not modified in this way, which presents a problem when
studying the natural modified protein. These additional groups are varied
and may either enable the protein to carry out its function or modify the
function in some way. Attachment of complex glycosylated phospholi-
pids [glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) modification at the C-terminal,
for example] is one of the ways in which proteins can be attached to the
cell membrane.[2]
One example of a protein that is attached to the cell membrane in this
way is the prion protein (PrP). PrP is of particular interest to biologists
and biochemists because it is thought to be the causative agent in an
important class of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), including scrapie in sheep, bovine
spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
in humans. The GPI group results in the protein being anchored in the
outside of the lipid bilayer membrane that surrounds the cell.[3–5] The
infectious form of this protein (PrPSc) is thought to be an alternatively
folded form of the normal form (PrPC). To check how the infectious form
is produced,[6,7] it is fundamental to anchor the protein in the membrane
in a manner similar to that found in nature. It is impractical to use the
prion protein with a natural GPI anchor because purification of sufficient
amounts for structural analyses is very difficult and the naturally occur-
ring material is highly heterogeneous, consisting of different glycosilated
species. For this reason, we have developed a new synthetic route to pro-
duce a modified protein GPI mimetic (GPIm). By using methanethiosul-
fonate chemistry, lipids can be covalently bound to proteins via the thiol
group in the side chain of a cysteine residue, which can be engineered at
the required position. We have successfully used this approach to study
the structure of PrP anchored in lipid membranes using attenuated total
internal reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).[8]
In this article, we present a flexible methodology for the synthesis of
glycosylphosphatidylinositol modified (GPIm) compounds. To mimic the
properties of the naturally occurring GPI molecule, the following proper-
ties are required: two saturated hydrocarbon chains of a length typical of
that found in nature, [9] followed by an ethylene glycol linker to mimic the

3728
M. R. Hicks et al.
Figure 1. Methanethiosulfonate.
length of carbohydrate moiety in a natural GPI,[10] and finally the cou-
pling methanethisulfonate group to attach GPIm to a cysteine at the
C-terminal of the protein. The developed synthetic route is presented
next.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
With the aim to create a mimic of a lipid anchor-containing protein, we
needed to synthesize an anchored lipid to couple with the free thiol group
of a genetically engineered cysteine residue at the carboxyl terminus of
the prion protein (PrP). Because the coupling will take place via nucleo-
philic attack by the thiolate anion of the cysteine group, the lipid should
contain an activated suitable leaving group. Kenyon and Bruice[11] sug-
gested the use of methanethiosulfonate as reactive leaving group (Fig. 1)
because of the specific and quantitative reactivity of thiols toward it to
generate a S–S bond.
A simple methanethiosulfonate lipid can be easily prepared by
reaction of bromooctadecane and the easily synthesised sodium metha-
nethiosulfonate salt 1 (Scheme 1).[11]
Another factor that must be considered is that the anchored lipid
should contain a hydrophilic portion to separate the protein from the mem-
brane surface. Ethyleneglycol chainscan act as suitable flexible spacers.[12]
Scheme 1. Preparation of methanethiosulfonate lipid.

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3729
Our first synthetic approach to obtain the mimic anchor compound
GPIm consisted of the synthesis of two different single methanethiosulfo-
nate lipids with different length chains. The route employed is depicted in
Scheme 2. The synthesis began with the reaction of the commercially
available alcohols 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol and 2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)-
ethoxy]ethanol with benzyl mercaptan and sodium methoxide in dry
methanol, which yielded the benzylthiol protected alcohols 2 and 3 in
88–90% yield. Reaction of these alcohols with 1-bromooctadecane under
phase-transfer conditions furnished the ethers 4 and 5 in 72–86% yield,
which were successfully reduced with sodium and liquid ammonia to
the thiols 6 and 7 in quantitative yield. Reaction of these thiols with
triphenylphosphine and iodine gave the iodo-lipids 8 and 9.[13] Desired
methanethiosulfonate lipids 10 and 11 were obtained via reaction of
the iodine derivatives 8 and 9 with the initially synthesized sodium
methanethiosulfonate 1[11] (Scheme 2).
Preliminary experiments were performed using compounds 10 and 11
coupled to the prion protein (PrP), via a cysteine residue, engineered at
the C-terminus of the protein. Insertion of these lipid-anchored proteins
into lipid bilayers was unsuccessful. This was thought to be due to the
presence of only one lipid chain compared with the two chains found
in the naturally occurring lipid anchor. For this reason, once the syn-
thetic method had been developed with the monoalkyl chain anchors,
we turned our attention to the possibility of using double-chain metha-
nethiosulfonate-containing lipids. We have redesigned our synthetic
pathway for the preparation of these double-chain compounds, starting
from simple and inexpensive starting materials with the objective to
target the required molecules.
To mimic as much as possible the length of the naturally occurring
GPI anchor,[10] a hexaethyleneglycol linker was chosen as the spacer
together with a long C16 hydrocarbon chain as hydrophobic anchor.[9]
Scheme 2. Synthesis of two different single methanethiosulfonate chains.

3730
M. R. Hicks et al.
Figure 2. a,a-unsaturated carboxylic acid.
Following the method of Ferris,[14] the inexpensive and widely avail-
able diethyl bis(hydroxymethyl)malonate and 48% hydrobromic acid
were heated under reflux at 140ꢀC with distillation of ethyl bromide to
afford 3-bromo-2-bromomethylpropanoic acid 12 as a crude pale brown
solid. It was noteworthy that traces of the a,a-unsaturated carboxylic
acid (Fig. 2) were formed during the synthesis of dibromo acid via elim-
ination of HBr.
The reduction of the dibromo acid 12 was done with diborane
according to the method of Anasari et al.[15] to afford 3-bromo-2-bromo-
methylpropan-1-ol 13 with an overall yield of 44% (Scheme 3).
Using our predesigned route, two types of lipids were synthesized,
one containing two sulfide chains, synthesized via the acid 12, and the
other containing two sulfone chains, using the alcohol 13 as starting
material (Fig. 3).
Using the method employed by Zhang and Magnusson,[16] dibromo
alcohol 13 and hexadecanethiol were treated with caesium carbonate
(CsCO3) in dimethylformamide and stirred at room temperature for
24 h to give 3-hexadecylthio-2-(hexadecylthiomethyl) propan-1-ol 14 in
good yield (88%) after recrystallization from methanol (Scheme 4).
There are many methods available for the oxidation of alcohols, but
we required a reagent that would be able to oxidize both the alcohol and
the sulfide in a single step and in good yield. Potassium permanganate
was chosen for the oxidation step, as was utilized before by Georges
and coworkers[17] for the oxidation of sulfides. A solution of potassium
permanganate in water was added to a mixture of dithiolalkyl alcohol
14 in acetic acid at 60ꢀC and stirred for 24 h (Scheme 4). Workup of
the reaction afforded the oxidized sulfone 15 as a white solid, which
showed the characteristic peak of the carboxyl group in 13C NMR spec-
tra and both the carboxyl and the sulfone in the infrared spectrum.
Scheme 3. Reaction of the dibromo acid.

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3731
Figure 3. Both sulfide and sulfone lipids were synthesized.
One point of note concerning the oxidized sulfone 15 was its limited
solubility in chloroform at room temperature. This decreased solubility
had a major effect on the proceeding steps because it limited the reaction
conditions that could be used.
With this problem in mind, to improve the solubility of the sulfone
derivative acid we decided to attempt in parallel the synthesis of the ana-
logous double-chain sulfide containing acid via direct synthesis from the
previously synthesized dibromo acid 12 using the procedure of Zhang
Scheme 4. Synthesis of the sulfone-containing acid.

3732
M. R. Hicks et al.
Scheme 5. Synthesis of the sulfide-containing acid.
and Magnusson.[16] Reaction of dibromoacid and hexadecanethiol under
the previously described conditions[16] yielded the desired dialkylacid 16
(Scheme 5), which was further purified by silica column chromatography.
Once the dithioalkyl and disulfonealkyl acids were prepared, the syn-
thetic sequence to the desired GPIm required the introduction of a spacer
unit. This part of the route started with the mono-tert-butyldimethylsilyl
protection of hexaethylene glycol. Using the method of Bertozzi and
Bednarski,[18] reaction of hexaethyleneglycol with terbutyldimethylsilyl
chloride (TBDMS-Cl) and sodium hydride at 0ꢀC gave rise a mixture
of monosubstituted alcohol 17 and some disubstituted product, which
was easily removed by silica chromatography (Scheme 6).
Coupling reactions of the monoprotected alcohol 17 with the
sulfone- and sulfide-containing acids 15 and 16, respectively, were
first attempted using [1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide
Scheme 6. Synthesis of a monosubstituted alcohol.

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3733
Scheme 7. Coupling the lipid and spacer.
hydrochloride (EDCI) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), using
standard peptide coupling conditions. Nevertheless, the reactions with
both of the acids gave unsatisfactory yields of the required products.
The use of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as suggested by Whitesell
and Reynolds[19] provided a more satisfactory yield for coupling of the
alcohol 17 with the sulfide-containing acid 16 to yield ester 19 but a
low yield for coupling of the alcohol with the sulfone-containing acid
15 to yield 18. This low but workable yield can be attributed to the
low solubility shown by the sulfone acid derivate 15, as was mentioned
before (Scheme 7).
Both TBDMS-protected lipids 18 and 19 were quantitatively depro-
tected using trifluoroborane etherate in a mixture of dichloromethane
and acetonitrile at 0ꢀC according to the procedure employed by King
et al.[20] The resulting alcohols 20 and 21 were satisfactorily protected
with methanesulfonyl chloride in pyridine at 0ꢀC to give the mesylated
derivatives 22 and 23 in quantitative yield (Scheme 8).
The synthesis of methanethiosulfonate derivatives normally proceeds
via displacement of a halogen atom from a haloalkane. We have found in
the literature different available methods for the conversion of mesylates
to halides. Taking into account that iodide as leaving group should pro-
vide an easier route to methanesulfonate lipids than bromide,[11] we
decided to convert the mesylates 22 and 23 into the related iodide
compounds.

3734
M. R. Hicks et al.
Scheme 8. Synthesis of the mesylated derivatives.
Reaction of mesylates 22 and 23 with iodine and triphenylpho-
sphine[13] provided a reasonable yield of the iodo-lipids, but purification
was difficult because of the triphenylphosphine and triphenylphosphine
oxides formed during the reaction. However, an alternative reaction with
sodium iodide in acetone as described by Poss and Belter[21] performed a
clean displacement of the mesylate group and allowed the obtention of
the desired iodo-lipids 24 and 25 with excellent yields. Reaction of the
iodo compounds with sodium methanethiosulfonate 1 provided the target
methanethiosulfonate anchor lipids 26 and 27 (Scheme 9).
The synthetic work presented here provides an easy and straightfor-
ward way to obtain synthetically produced glycosylphosphatidylinositol-
mimetic lipids to attach as modifying groups in proteins.
EXPERIMENTAL
Melting points were determined using a Stuart Scientific SMP 1 melting-
1
point apparatus and are uncorrected. H and 13C NMR spectra were

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3735
Scheme 9. Synthesis of the final products via iodo-lipids.
recorded at either 400 MHz or 500 MHz on Bruker DPX-400 or DRX
500 instruments respectively with coupling constants, J, given in hertz
(Hz). Fast-atom bombardment (FAB) and EI=CI mass spectra, including
high-resolution spectrum, were recorded on a Kratos Autospec spectro-
meter. Chemicals were purchased from Aldrich, Sigma, or Lancaster at
the highest available grade. All general solvents were purchased from
Fisons Scientific Equipment at specified laboratory reagent (SLR) grade
and purified when required, using the literature procedures. Anhydrous
solvents were purchased from Aldrich (Highdry).
Sodium Methanethiosulfonate (1)
Sodium sulfide (72.1 g, 0.3 mol) was dissolved in water (75 cm3), and the
solution was heated at 80ꢀC. Methanesulfonyl chloride (23.3 cm3,
0.3 mol) was added dropwise to the vigorously stirred solution over a
period of 15 min, and the reaction mixture was refluxed overnight. The
colorless solution was cooled to room temperature and evaporated under

3736
M. R. Hicks et al.
reduced pressure to give a white solid. The white solid was ground finely,
dried in a vacuum oven at 40ꢀC overnight, and then filter-extracted with
dry ethanol (5 ꢁ 50 cm3). The filtrate was cooled in a refrigerator over-
night. The resulting crystals were collected by filtration and washed with
ice-cold ethanol (50 cm3). The mother liquors were evaporated under
reduced pressure until more crystals started to fall out of solution. The
collected crystalline solids were dissolved using the minimum amount
of dry ethanol and fine filtered to remove traces of sodium chloride.
The filtrate was evaporated to dryness, and the resulting product was
recrystallized several times to give the required salt product 1 as a white
1
crystalline solid (5.24 g, 13%). Mp 273–274ꢀC; H NMR d (300 MHz;
D2O) 3.2 (s, 3 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; D2O) 54.8. Anal. calcd. for
CH3NaO2S2: C, 8.9; H, 2.3. Found: C, 8.6; H, 2.5.
2-(2-Benzylsulfanylethoxy) Ethanol (2)
Benzyl mercaptan (31.4 cm3, 267.8 mmol) was added via syringe to a solu-
tion of sodium methoxide (24 g, 446.3 mmol) in anhydrous methanol
(500 cm3) under nitrogen atmosphere. Then 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol
(50 g, 403 mmol) was added dropwise, and the reaction mixture was
heated under reflux overnight. After 19 h, the reaction was poured into
a saturated aqueous solution of NaCl (500 cm3) and the product was
extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 ꢁ 1 L). The organic phase was dried (MgSO4),
filtered, and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a crude oil, which
was purified by silica chromatography (CH2Cl2 ! CH2Cl2-MeOH, 15:1)
1
to give the title compound 4 (75.36 g, 88%) as a clear oil. H NMR d
(300 MHz; CDCl3) 2.47 (t, J ¼ 6.2, 1 H), 2.64 (t, J ¼ 6.6, 2 H), 3.50–
3.56 (m, 2 H), 3.60 (t, J ¼ 6.6, 2 H), 3.69–3.73 (m, 2 H), 3.77 (s, 2 H),
7.23–7.37 (m, 5 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; CDCl3) 30.7, 36.5, 61.6,
70.1, 71.9, 127.0, 128.4, 128.8, 138.1. MS -CI (m=z) 230.12 (M þ NH4þ);
C11H20NO2S requires 230.12.
2-[2-(2-Benzylsulfanylethoxy)ethoxy] Ethanol (3)
The compound was prepared according to the procedure described for 2
using the commercially available 2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol as
starting material. The crude oil obtained was purified by silica chromato-
graphy (CH2Cl2 ! CH2Cl2-MeOH, 15:1) to give the title compound 3
1
(68.68 g, 90%) as a clear oil. H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3) 2.51–2.59
(m, 3 H), 3.50–3.61 (m, 8 H), 3.62–3.68 (m, 2 H), 3.70 (s, 2 H), 7.23–
7.37 (m, 5 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; CDCl3) 30.5, 36.5, 61.6, 70.2,

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3737
70.2, 70.6, 72.4, 127.0, 128.4, 128.8, 138.2. MS-CI (m=z) 274.1478
(M þ NH4þ); C13H24NO3S requires 274.1477.
[2-(2-Octadecyloxyethoxy)ethylsulfanylmethyl] Benzene (4)
2-(2-Benzylsulfanyl-ethoxy)-ethanol (10 g, 47.15 mmol) and commercially
available 1-bromooctadecane (20.9 cm3, 61.29 mmol) were mixed in a
250-cm3 round-bottom flask. Aqueous NaOH [37.7 g, 943 mmol, in 38 g
of H2O (50% w=w)], tetrabutylammonium hydrogensulfate (1.28 g,
3.78 mmol), and sodium iodide (0.71 g, 4.72 mmol) were added. The
two-phase mixture was stirred vigorously overnight at 90ꢀC under a
nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction was followed by thin-layer chromato-
graphy (TLC, hexane–EtOAc, 10:1). After stirring overnight, the reaction
mixture was poured into water (500 cm3), and the product was extracted
with CH2Cl2 (3 ꢁ 500 cm3). The organic extracts were combined, dried
(MgSO4), filtered, and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a crude
oil, which was purified by silica chromatography (hexane–EtOAc, 12:1)
1
to give the title compound 4 (18.79 g, 86%) as a clear oil. H NMR d
(300 MHz; CDCl3) 0.82 (t, J ¼ 6.7, 3 H), 1.15–1.35 (m, 30 H), 1.45–1.54
(m, 2 H), 2.56 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.39 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.47–3.58 (m, 6
H), 3.70 (s, 2 H), 7.13–7.22 (m, 5 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; CDCl3)
14.1, 22.6, 26.0, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 30.4, 31.8, 36.5, 70.0, 70.3, 70.8,
71.5, 126.8, 128.4, 128.8, 138.4. MS-CI (m=z) 482.4034 (M þ NH4þ);
C29H56NO2S requires 482.4032.
{2-[2-(2-Octadecyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethylsulfanylmethyl} Benzene (5)
The compound was prepared according with the procedure described for
4. The obtained crude oil was purified by silica chromatography (hexane–
EtOAc, 6:1) to give the pure title compound 5 (14.2 g, 72%) as a white
1
waxy solid. H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3) 0.81 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 3 H), 1.10–
1.32 (m, 30 H), 1.46–1.55 (m, 2 H), 2.56 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.36 (t, J ¼ 6.8,
2 H), 3.47–3.58 (m, 10 H), 3.69 (s, 2 H), 7.13–7.27 (m, 5 H); 13C NMR d
(75 MHz; CDCl3) 14.0, 22.6, 26.0, 29.3, 29.4, 29.6, 29.7, 30.5, 31.8, 36.5,
70.0, 70.2, 70.5, 70.6, 70.8, 71.5, 126.9, 128.4, 128.9, 138.3; MS-CI (m=z)
526.4298 (M þ NH4þ); C25H48NO3S requires 526.4294.
[2-(2-Octadecyloxy)ethoxy] Ethanethiol (6)
Liquid ammonia (150 cm3) was condensed into a 250-cm3, three-necked,
round-bottom flask at ꢂ 78ꢀC with a dry-ice condenser and a nitrogen

3738
M. R. Hicks et al.
bubbler attached. Small pieces of sodium (1.2 g, 52.2 mmol) were added
to obtain a permanent blue coloration. The mixture was stirred at ꢂ 78ꢀC
for 10 min. After that, a solution of {[2-(2-octadecyloxy)ethoxy]ethylsul-
fanylmethyl} benzene (3 g, 6.46 mmol) in anhydrous THF (25 cm3) was
added via syringe, and the reaction mixture was stirred at ꢂ 78ꢀC for
1 h. The temperature was slowly increased to about ꢂ 30ꢀC (ꢃ 1.5 h),
and the reaction refluxed for 30 min. The reaction mixture was cooled
to ꢂ 78ꢀC and quenched with wet THF (75% THF in H2O, 25 cm3) until
the blue coloration disappeared. The reaction flask was allowed to warm
to room temperature with bubbling of nitrogen through the solution. The
resulting white suspension was slowly diluted with water (200 cm3), and
the product was extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 ꢁ 150 cm3). The combined
organic phases were dried (MgSO4), filtered, and evaporated under
reduced pressure to give a crude yellow oil, which was purified by silica
chromatography (CH2Cl2) to give the title compound 6 (1.80 g, 74%) as
1
a white waxy solid. H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3) 0.85 (t, J ¼ 6.0, 3 H),
1.15–1.38 (m, 30 H), 1.50–1.61 (m, 3 H), 2.67 (dt, 2 H, J ¼ 6.4, 6.6), 3.43
(t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.52–3.63 (m, 6 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; CDCl3)
14.1, 22.6, 24.2, 26.0, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.8, 69.9, 70.2, 72.8, 71.5.
MS-ES þ (m=z) 397.3118 (M þ Na); C22H46O2NaS requires 397.3116.
2-[2-(2-Octadecyloxyethoxy)ethoxy] Ethanethiol (7)
Compound 1 was synthesized according the method previously described
for 6. The crude yellow oil obtained was purified by silica chromatogra-
phy (CH2Cl2–EtOAc, 30:1) to give the title compound 7 (1.57 g, 67%) as a
1
white waxy solid. H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3) 0.85 (t, J ¼ 6.4, 7.0, 3
H), 1.20–1.38 (m, 30 H), 1.50–1.61 (m, 3 H), 2.67 (dt, J ¼ 6.4, 6.6, 2
H), 3.43 (t, J ¼ 6.8,2 H), 3.50–3.65 (m, 10 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz;
CDCl3) 14.1, 22.6, 24.2, 26.0, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.8, 70.0, 70.2,
70.5, 70.6, 71.5, 72.8. MS-ES þ (m=z) 441.3376 (M þ Na); C24H50O3NaS
requires 441.3378.
1-[2-(2-Iodoethoxy)ethoxy] Octadecane 12 (8)
Anhydrous benzene (5 cm3) was added to a flask containing [2-(2-octade-
cyloxy)ethoxy] ethanethiol 6 (260 mg, 0.69 mmol) and triphenylphosphine
(540 mg, 2.01 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature.
Iodine (263 mg, 1.04 mmol) was added, and the reaction mixture was
heated under reflux overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. After stirring
overnight, when the reaction was completed, the mixture was diluted with

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3739
dichloromethane (25 cm3) and washed with water (3ꢁ 15 cm3). The organic
layers were dried over magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), filtered, and evapo-
rated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica chromato-
graphy (dichloromethane) to give the title compound 8 (213 mg, 66%) as a
white solid. 1H NMR d (300MHz; CDCl3) 0.87 (t, J¼ 6.7, 7.0, 3 H),1.27–
1.30 (m, 30 H), 1.52–1.59 (m, 2H), 3.25 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.45 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 2
H), 3.56–3.66 (m, 4 H), 3.75 (t, J ¼ 7.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; CDCl3)
2.9, 14.1, 22.7, 26.0, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 70.0, 70.2, 71.6, 72.0. MS-
ES þ (m=z) 491.2360 (M þ Na); C22H45O2 INa requires 491.2362.
1-{2-[2-(2-Iodoethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy} Octadecane (9)
Compound 9 was synthesized from 7 according the method previously
described for 8. The crude obtained was purified by silica chromatogra-
phy (ethyl acetate–dichloromethane, 40:1) to give the title compound 9
1
(234 mg, 70%) as a white waxy solid; H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3)
0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.7, 7.0, 3 H), 1.26–1.30 (m, 30 H),1.54–1.62 (m, 2 H), 3.25
(t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.45 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 2 H), 3.56–3.66 (m, 8 H), 3.75
(t, J ¼ 7.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz; CDCl3) 2.9, 14.1, 22.7, 26.1,
29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 70.1, 70.2, 70.6, 70.7, 71.6, 72.0. MS-
ES þ (m=z) 535.2623 (M þ Na); C24H49O3INa requires 535.2624.
[2-(2-Octadecyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]methanethiosulfonate (10)
Previously synthesized sodium methanethiosulfonate
1
(40 mg,
0.30 mmol) was added to a solution of 1-[2-(2-iodoethoxy)ethoxy] octade-
cane 8 (100 mg, 0.21 mmol) in anhydrous dimethylformamide (5 cm3) at
room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture
was heated at 50ꢀC and was monitored by TLC (dichloromethane). After
stirring overnight, the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to
give a residue that was purified by silica chromatography (dichloro-
methane) to yield the desired compound 10 (47 mg, 49%) as a waxy solid.
1
Mp 40–41ꢀC; H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3) 0.86 (t, J ¼ 6.7, 66.7, 3 H),
1.25–1.30 (m, 30 H),1.52–1.59 (m, 2 H), 3.25 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 12 H), 3.35–3.44
(m, 7 H), 3.54–3.65 (m, 4 H), 3.79 (t, J ¼ 5.7, 2 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz;
CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 26.1, 29.4, 29.5, 29.7, 31.9, 36.6 50.6, 69.9, 70.0. MS-
ES þ (m=z) 475.2890 (M þ Na); C23H48O4S2Na requires 475.2891.
{2-[2-(2-Octadecyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy} Methanethiosulfonate (11)
The compound was synthesized following the procedure described for 10.
The residue obtained was purified by silica chromatography (ethyl

3740
M. R. Hicks et al.
acetate–dichloromethane, 30:1) to the required compound 13 (148 mg,
1
76%) as a waxy solid; mp 40–41ꢀC; H NMR d (300 MHz; CDCl3) 0.86
(t, J ¼ 6.6, 6.6, 3 H), 1.24–1.26 (m, 30 H, 1.51–1.58 (m, 2 H), 3.35–3.44
(m, 7 H), 3.53–3.65 (m, 8 H), 3.79 (t, J ¼ 5.7, 2 H); 13C NMR d
(75 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 26.1, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 36.6,
50.7, 69.9, 70.0. MS-ES þ (m=z) 519.2150 (M þ Na); C25H52O5S2Na
requires 519.2154.
3-Bromo-2-bromomethyl Propionic Acid[3] (12)
A mixture of commercial diethyl bis(hydroxymethyl)malonate (25 g,
0.11 mol) and 48% aqueous hydrogen bromide (192 cm3, 1.70 mol)
was heated until the bromoethane liquid began to distil off from the mix-
ture and then distilled vigorously for approximately 1 h. The reaction
mixture was refluxed for 5 h at 140ꢀC. The solution was cooled for
1.5 h in an ice bath. The crystals formed were filtered, washed with a little
ice-cold water, and dried under vacuum. Around 80 cm3 of the filtrate
was distilled off, and the solution was chilled in ice to yield a further
crop of crystals, which were washed and dried as described before to give
12 (12.96 g, 47%) as pale brown crystals. Mp 105–108ꢀC; nmax=cmꢂ1
1
2881, 1687, 1441, 1302, 1240, 1201, 913; H NMR d (400 MHz; CDCl3)
3.20–3.30 (m, 1 H), 3.69–3.83 (m, 4 H); 13C NMR d (100 MHz; CDCl3)
29.8, 48.3, 175.4. MS-EI (m=z) 245.8714, (Mþ); C4H6Br2O2 requires
245.8716.
3-Bromo-2-bromomethyl Propan-1-ol (13)
3-Bromo-2-bromomethyl propionic acid 12 (2 g, 8.20 mmol) was
dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane (50 cm3) at room temperature
under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was cooled to 0ꢀC and then
diborane (1 M BH3 in tetrahydrofuran, 25 cm3, 24.60 mmol) was added
dropwise over a period of 10 min. The reaction mixture was allowed to
warm to room temperature and left to stir overnight. The reaction was
followed by TLC (CH2Cl2–MeOH, 40:1). After 18 h, aqueous 1 M HCl
(26 cm3) was added dropwise at room temperature, and the mixture
was allowed to stir for 30 min. The phases were separated, and the
aqueous layer was washed with CH2Cl2 (3 ꢁ 15 cm3). The combined
organic extracts were dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and evaporated under
reduced pressure to give an oil, which was purified by silica chromato-
graphy (CH2Cl2–MeOH, 40:1) to give product 13 (1.75 g, 93%) as a color-
1
less oil. H NMR d (400 MHz; CDCl3) 1.63 (bs,1 H), 2.25 (m, 1 H), 3.56

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3741
(m, 4 H), 3.76 (d, J ¼ 6.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d (100 MHz; CDCl3) 32.7, 44.4,
62.5. MS-EI (m=z) 229.8942 (Mþ); C4H8Br2O requires 229.8946.
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl Propan-1-ol (14)
A solution of 3-bromo-2-bromomethyl propan-1-ol 13 (2 g, 8.70 mmol
and hexadecanethiol (8.0 cm3, 26.01 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (60 cm3)
under a nitrogen atmosphere was cooled to 0ꢀC. Then caesium carbonate
(9.2 g, 26.01 mmol) was added, and the reaction mixture was left to stir
overnight at room temperature. The reaction was followed by TLC
(hexane–EtOAc, 2:1). After 24 h, the reaction was poured into ice=
water–CH2Cl2, 3:5, 320 cm3), and the aqueous phase was extracted with
CH2Cl2 (3 ꢁ 150 cm3). The combined organic extracts were washed with
saturated aqueous NaCl (2 ꢁ 150 cm3), dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and eva-
porated under reduced pressure. MeOH (80 cm3) was added to force the
crystallization of the desired product 14 (4.49 g, 88%) which was obtained
after filtration as a white amorphous solid. Mp 42–44ꢀC; 1H NMR
d (400 MHz; CDCl3) 0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.6, 7.3, 6 H), 1.16–1.42 (m, 52 H),
1.54–1.68 (m, 4 H), 1.92–1.99 (m, 1 H), 2.51 (t, J ¼ 7.3, 7.5, 4 H), 2.60–
2.69 (m, 4 H), 3.75 (d, J ¼ 5.1, 2 H); 13C NMR d (100 MHz; CDCl3)
14.1, 22.7, 28.9, 29.2, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 32.9, 33.7, 40.6, 64.7.
MS-FAB 3-NBA (m=z, %) 585.5103 (M þ 1); C36H73NOS2 requires
585.5102.
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl) Propionic
Acid (15)
Acetic acid (150 cm3) was added to a flask containing 3-hexadecylsulfanyl-
2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl propan-1-ol 14 (2 g, 3.41mmol). The mixture
was heated in an oil bath at 60ꢀC until all of the starting material was dis-
solved. A saturated solution of potassium permanganate (21.6 g,
136.4 mmol) in water (200cm3) was then added, and the mixture was
stirred overnight at 60ꢀC. The reaction was followed by TLC (CH2Cl2–
MeOH, 5:1). After 24 h, the reaction was allowed to cool to room tempera-
ture. Then sodium metabisulfate (33.7 g, 177.3 mmol) was added, which
resulted in an instantaneous color change of the solution from a purple
to white. The reaction was acidified with 5 M HCl (aq), and the product
was extracted with CHCl3 (3 ꢁ 300 cm3). The combined extracts were com-
bined and evaporated under reduced pressure, and the crude product was
purified by silica chromatography (CH2Cl2–MeOH, 5:1 v=v) to give pro-
duct 15 (1.41 g, 63%) as a white amorphous solid. Mp 62–64ꢀC; nmax=cmꢂ1

3742
M. R. Hicks et al.
3109, 2956, 2916, 2849, 1726, 1464, 1317, 1276, 1189, 1126, 1109; 1H NMR
d (400MHz; pyridine-d6) 0.88 (t, J ¼ 6.7, 7.0, 6 H), 1.15–1.45 (m, 52 H),
1.95–2.05 (m, 4 H), 3.45 (t, J ¼ 7.8, 8.0, 4 H), 4.15–4.40 (m, 5 H); 13C
NMR d (100MHz; pyridine-d6) 14.3, 22.4, 23.0, 28.7, 29.4, 29.6, 29.7,
29.8, 29.9, 30.0; 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 32.1, 32.7, 36.1, 53.4, 54.2, 178.4. MS-
FAB 3-NBA (m=z, %) 687.4655 (M þ Naþ); C36H72O6S2Na requires
687.4668.
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl Propionic Acid (16)
3-Bromo-2-bromomethyl propionic acid 15 (2 g, 8.201 mmol) and hexa-
decanethiol (7.6 cm3, 24.60 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous DMF
(60 cm3) at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. Caesium
carbonate (9.2 g, 26.01 mmol) was added, and the reaction mixture was
stirred overnight, at 50ꢀC, under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction
was followed by TLC. (For TLC, an aliquot was removed to vial contain-
ing 1 M HCl (aq), CHCl3 was added, the vial was shaken, and the CHCl3
was phase spotted using as eluent hexane–EtOAc, 4:1 v=v þ 0.5% acetic
acid.) After 24 h, the reaction was allowed to cool to room temperature
and poured into ice=water–CHCl3 (3:5, 320 cm3), and the organic phase
was separated. The aqueous phase was acidified with 5 M HCl (aq),
and product was extracted with CHCl3 (150 cm3 ꢁ 3). The extracts were
washed with saturated aqueous NaCl (2 ꢁ 200 cm3), dried (Na2SO4), fil-
tered, and evaporated under reduced pressure. MeOH (40 cm3) was
added to favor the crystallization as a white solid, which was filtered
and purified by silica chromatography (hexane–EtOAc, 4:1, þ 0.5% acetic
acid) to give product 16 (2.15 g, 44%) as a white amorphous solid; mp 52–
53ꢀC; nmax=cmꢂ1 3110, 2955, 2917, 2850, 1694, 1470, 1431, 716; 1H NMR
d (400 MHz; CDCl3) 0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.7, 7.0, 6 H), 1.15–1.38 (m, 52 H), 1.50–
1.60 (m, 4 H), 2.52 (t, J ¼ 7.3, 7.5, 4 H), 2.75–2.90 (m, 5 H); 13C NMR d
(75 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 28.9, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 32.7,
46.1, 178.4. MS-FAB 3-NBA (m=z, %) 645.4676 (M þ 2Naþ);
C36H72O2S2Na2 requires 645.4691.
2-{2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}
ethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy} Ethanol (17)
A solution of hexaethyleneglycol (9.2 g, 32.58 mmol) in anhydrous THF
(20 cm3) under a nitrogen atmosphere was cooled to 0ꢀC and stirred
for 10 min. Sodium hydride (1.3 g, 32.58 mmol, 60% dispersion in mineral
oil) was added. Stirring was continued until effervescence had ceased.

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3743
Then a solution of tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (4.9 g, 32.58 mmol) in
anhydrous THF (20 cm3) was added dropwise over a period of 2.5 h, at
0ꢀC, keeping the atmosphere of nitrogen. After the addition was com-
plete, the ice bath was removed, and the reaction mixture was allowed
to warm to room temperature with stirring over 30 min. The reaction
was monitored by TLC using CH2Cl2–MeOH, (15:1) solvent mixture.
The reaction was cooled to 0ꢀC, and methanol (10 cm3) was added drop-
wise to destroy the excess of sodium hydride. The solvent was evaporated
under reduced pressure to give a yellow oil. The oil was dissolved in
cyclohexane (100 cm3) and washed twice with water (30 cm3). The organic
layer was dried (MgSO4), filtered, and evaporated under reduced pressure
to give a yellow oil, which was purified by silica chromatography to give
1
product 17 (4.9 g, 36%) as a colorless oil; H NMR d (400 MHz; CDCl3)
0.04 (s, 6 H), 0.87 (s, 9 H), 2.58 (bs, 1 H), 3.53 (dd, J ¼ 5.3, 5.5, 11H), 3.59
(dd, J ¼ 4.1, 4.7, 2 H), 3.60–3.65 (m, 16 H), 3.70 (dd, J ¼ 4.3, 4.8, 2 H),
3.74 (dd, J ¼ 4.7, 5.5, 2 H); 13C NMR d (100 MHz; CDCl3) ꢂ 5.3, 25.9,
61.7, 62.7, 70.3, 70.5, 70.6, 70.7, 72.5, 72.6. MS-EI (m=z, %) 397.2625
(100.%, Mþ.); C18H41O7Si requires 397.2622).
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl)-propionic
Acid 2-{2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(tert-Butyl-dimethyl-silanyloxy)ethoxy]-
ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy} Ethyl Ester (18)
2-{2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)-
ethoxy]-ethoxy}ethanol 15 (0.26 g, 0.640 mmol) was dissolved in anhy-
drous toluene (8 cm3) under an atmosphere of nitrogen. A Dean–Stark
trap was attached, and the solution was heated until about 4 cm3 of
toluene were distilled. The remaining solvent was evaporated under
reduced pressure and dried under vacuum. Anhydrous CH2Cl2 (30 cm3)
was added to
a
flask containing 3-(hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-
(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl) propionic acid (0.42 g, 0.640 mmol), dried
alcohol 15 (0.26 g, 0.640 mmol), and DMAP (8 mg, 0.064 mmol) at room
temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was gently
warmed to dissolve the acid. The mixture was cooled to 0ꢀC, and then
a solution of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) (0.26 g, 1.280 mmol) in
anhydrous CH2Cl2 (3 cm3) was added dropwise over a period of
10 min. Dicyclohexylurea (DCU) precipitates before addition of DCC
is complete. The ice bath was removed, and the reaction mixture was left
to stir overnight. The reaction was followed by TLC (CHCl3–MeOH,
30:1). After 22 h, the reaction was filtered to remove DCU and evapo-
rated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by silica
chromatography (CHCl3–EtOAc, 1:1), yielding 18 (0.24 g, 36%) as a

3744
M. R. Hicks et al.
1
waxy solid; H NMR d (500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.04 (s, 6 H), 0.87 (t, J ¼ 7.0,
7.4, 6 H), 0.89 (s, 9 H), 1.20–1.40 (m, 48 H), 1.37–1.47 (m, 4 H), 1.79–1.85
(m, 4 H), 3.02 (app t, J ¼ 8.1, 8.1, 4 H), 3.53 (t, J ¼ 5.3, 6.6, 2 H), 3.60–
3.68 (m, 16 H), 3.70 (app t, J ¼ 4.7, 5.0, 2 H), 3.73 (t, J ¼ 5.3, 5.6, 2 H),
4.33 (app t, J ¼ 4.7, 5.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d(125 MHz; CDCl3) ꢂ5.30, 14.1,
21.8, 22.7, 25.9, 28.4, 29.0, 29.2, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 31.9, 34.7, 51.7, 54.4,
62.7, 65.2, 68.6, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6, 70.7, 72.6, 170.0. MS-FAB 3-NBA
(m=z) 1087.6876 (M þ 2Naþ); C54H109O12S2SiNa2 requires 1087.6925.
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl-propionic Acid 2-{2-[2-(2-
{2-[2-(tert-Butyldimethylsilanyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}
Ethyl Ester (19)
The compound was prepared according with the procedure described for
18 using product 16 as starting material. The crude obtained was purified
by silica chromatography (CHCl3–MeOH, 80:1 v=v) to give product 19
1
(1.24 g, 76%) as a waxy solid; H NMR d (500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.05 (s, 6
H), 0.87 (t, J ¼ 7.2, 7.6, 6 H), 0.89 (s, 9 H), 1.20–1.40 (m, 52 H), 1.50–
1.60 (m, 4 H), 2.50 (t, J ¼ 7.2, 7.5, 4 H), 2.73–2.88 (m, 5 H), 3.54
(t, J ¼ 5.3, 5.6, 2 H), 3.60–3.68 (m, 16 H), 3.70 (t, J ¼ 5.0, 5.0, 2H),
3.75 (t, J ¼ 5.6, 6.3, 2 H), 4.28 (t, J ¼ 4.7, 5.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d
(125 MHz; CDCl3) ꢂ 5.26, 14.1, 22.7, 25.9, 28.9, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6,
29.7, 31.9, 32.6, 33.1, 46.3, 62.7, 63.9, 69.1, 70.5, 70.6, 70.7, 72.7, 173.2.
MS-FAB 3-NBA (m=z) 1001.7315 (M þ Naþ); C54H110O8S2SiNa2
requires 1001.7309.
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl) Propionic
Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-Hydroxy-ethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl
Ester (20)
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl)-propionic acid
2-{2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(tert-butyl-dimethylsilanyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)-
ethoxy-ethoxy-ethyl ester 18 (0.18 g, 0.175 mmol) was dissolved in
mixture of anhydrous CH2Cl2–acetonitrile, 1:1 (2 cm3) at room tempera-
ture under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was cooled to 0ꢀC, and
then BF3ꢄOEt2 (44 ml, 0.349 mmol) was added dropwise over a period
of 10 min. TLC after 20 min (CHCl3–EtOAc–MeOH, 2:20:0.7) indicated
completion of the reaction. Saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (5 cm3) was then
added, and the product was extracted with CHCl3 (3 ꢁ 10 cm3). The
organic phase was washed with water (5 cm3), dried (Na2SO4), filtered,
and evaporated under reduced pressure to give product 20 (0.160 g,

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3745
99%) as a white solid. 1H NMR d (500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.86 (t, J ¼ 6.6, 7.2,
6 H), 1.20–1.34 (m, 48 H), 1.37–1.50 (m, 4 H), 1.79–1.88 (m, 4 H), 3.03
(appt t, J ¼ 6.0, 6.0, 4 H), 3.59–3.70 (m, 23 H), 3.71–9.75 (m, 4 H),
4.28 (app t, J ¼ 4.7, 4.7, 2 H); 13C NMR d (125 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1,
21.8, 22.7, 28.4, 29.1, 29.3, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 34.8, 51.7, 54.5,
61.6, 65.2, 68.7, 70.2, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6, 72.6, 170.1; MS-FAB 3-NBA
(m=z) 951.6241 (M þ Naþ). C48H96O12S2Na requires 951.6232).
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl Propionic Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-
[2-(2-Hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl Ester (21)
The compound was prepared according with the procedure described
for 20 using 19 as starting material. The reaction yielded 21
1
(0.78 g, 98%) as a waxy solid. H NMR d (500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.84 (t,
J ¼ 6.5, 7.0, 6 H), 1.15–1.44 (m, 52 H), 1.49–1.59 (m, 4 H), 2.49
(t, J ¼ 7.3, 7.5, 4 H), 2.73–2.85 (m, 5 H), 3.55–3.75 (m, 22 H), 4.28
(t, J ¼ 4.8, 4.8, 2 H); 13C NMR d (125 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 28.9,
29.2, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 32.6, 33.0, 46.1, 63.9, 69.1, 70.2,
70.4, 70.5, 72.4, 173.2. MS-FAB 3-NBA (m=z) 887.6433 (M þ Naþ);
C48H96O8S2Na requires 887.6435).
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl)-propionic
Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-Methanesulfonyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)
ethoxy] Ethyl Ester (22)
A solution of 3-(hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl)
propionic acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)-
ethoxy] ethyl ester 20 (0.3 g, 0.323 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine (8 cm3)
under a nitrogen atmosphere was cooled to 0ꢀC. Then a solution of
methanesulfonyl chloride (33 ml, 0.426 mmol) in anhydrous pyridine
(2 cm3) was added dropwise over a period of 10 min. The ice bath was
removed, and the reaction mixture was left to stir at room temperature.
The reaction was followed by TLC (CHCl3–EtOAc–MeOH, 2:20:0.7).
After 1 h, the reaction was filtered through cotton and evaporated under
reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica chromatography to
remove residual pyridine (CHCl3–EtOAc–MeOH, 2:20:0.7) to give pro-
duct 22 (0.31 g, 96%) as a pale brown waxy solid. 1H NMR d
(400 MHz; CDCl3) 0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.5, 7.0, 6 H), 1.20–1.34 (m, 48 H),
1.37–1.47 (m, 4 H), 1.78–1.88 (m, 4 H), 3.03 (appt t, J ¼ 6.0, 6.0, 4 H),
3.08 (s, 3 H), 3.55–3.70 (m, 21 H), 3.71 (app t, J ¼ 4.5, 5.0, 2 H), 3.73–
3.77 (m, 2 H), 4.20–4.40 (m, 4 H); 13C NMR d (100 MHz; CDCl3)

3746
M. R. Hicks et al.
14.1, 21.8, 22.7, 28.4, 29.0, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 34.7, 37.7, 51.7,
54.5, 65.2, 68.6, 69.0, 69.3, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6, 70.7, 170.2; MS-FAB
3-NBA (m=z) 1029.6016 (M þ Naþ); C49H98O14S3Na requires 1029.
6013.
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl Propionic Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-
[2-(2-Methanesulfonyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl
Ester (23)
The compound was prepared according to the procedure described for 22
using 21 as starting material. The residue obtained was purified by silica
chromatography to remove residual pyridine (CHCl3–EtOAc, 1:1) to
yield product 23 (0.44 g, 100%) as a brown solid. 1H NMR d
(500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.86 (t, J ¼ 6.6, 7.0, 6 H), 1.20–1.40 (m, 52 H),
1.50–1.57 (m, 4 H), 2.49 (t, J ¼ 7.3, 7.5, 4 H), 2.76–2.85 (m, 5 H), 3.06
(s, 3 H), 3.59–3.67 (m, 16 H), 3.69 (t, J ¼ 4.8, 5.3, 2 H), 3.73–3.76 (m, 2
H), 4.27 (app t, J ¼ 4.8, 5.3, 2 H), 4.36 (m, 2 H); 13C NMR d
(125 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 28.8, 29.2, 29.3, 29.5, 29.7, 31.9, 32.6,
33.0, 37.7, 46.2, 63.9, 69.0, 69.1, 69.3, 70.4, 70.5, 70.7, 173.2; MS-
FAB 3-NBA (m=z) 965.6220 (M þ Naþ), C49H98O10S3Na requires
965.6254.
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl) Propionic
Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-Iodoethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl
Ester (24)
A
solution of 3-(hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonyl-
methyl)propionic acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-methanesulfonyloxyethoxy)ethox-
y]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl ester 22 (0.28 g, 0.28 mmol) and sodium
iodide (58 mg, 0.39 mmol) in anhydrous acetone (10 cm3) was refluxed
overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction was followed by
TLC (CHCl3–EtOAc–MeOH, 2:20:0.2). After 22 h, the solvent was eva-
porated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in CHCl3
(50 cm3), washed with water (25 cm3 ꢁ 2), dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and
evaporated under reduced pressure to give product (0.19 g, 66%) as a
1
brown waxy solid. H NMR d (500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.9, 6.9,
6 H), 1.20–1.37 (m, 48 H), 1.38–1.45 (m, 4 H), 1.79–1.87 (m, 4 H), 3.03
(app t, J ¼ 6.9, 8.0, 4 H), 3.25 (t, J ¼ 7.2, 7.6, 2 H), 3.54–3.66 (m, 21
H), 3.71 (app t, J ¼ 4.7, 5.0, 2 H), 3.74 (t, J ¼ 7.2, 7.9, 2 H), 4.34 (app
t, J ¼ 4.7, 4.7, 2 H); 13C NMR d (125 MHz; CDCl3) 2.9, 14.1, 21.8,
22.7, 28.4, 29.0, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7), 31.9, 34.7, 51.7, 54.5, 65.2, 68.6,

Lipid Chain Synthesis
3747
70.2, 70.4, 70.6, 70.7, 72.0, 170.0; MS-FAB 3-NBA (m=z, %) 1045.5788
(M þ Naþ); C49H98IO13S4Na requires 1045.5747.
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl Propionic Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-
[2-(2-iodoethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl Ester (25)
The compound was prepared according with the procedure described
for 24 using 23 as starting material. The reaction yielded pure product
1
25 (0.41 g, 90%) as a brown waxy solid. H NMR d (400 MHz; CDCl3)
0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.5, 7.1, 6 H), 1.19–1.40 (m, 52 H), 1.50–1.59 (m, 4 H),
2.49 (t, J ¼ 7.5, 7.5, 4 H), 2.75–2.84 (m, 5 H), 3.25 (t, J ¼ 6.8, 7.0, 2
H), 3.60–3.65 (m, 16 H), 3.70 (br t, J ¼ 5.0, 5.0, 2 H), 3.74 (t,
J ¼ 6.8, 7.3, 2 H), 4.27 (br t, J ¼ 4.8, 5.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d
(75 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 28.9, 29.2, 29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9,
32.6, 33.1, 46.3, 63.9, 69.0, 70.2, 70.5, 70.6, 70.7, 70.8, 72.0, 173.2.
MS-FAB 3-NBA (m=z) 997.5462 (M þ Naþ); C48H95IO7S2Na requires
997.5484.
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl) Propionic
Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-methanesulfonylsulfanylethoxy)ethoxy]
ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl Ester (26)
3-(Hexadecane-1-sulfonyl)-2-(hexadecane-1-sulfonylmethyl) propionic
acid 2-[2-(2-{2-[2-(2-iodoethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] ethyl
ester 24 (0.18 g, 0.17 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous DMF
(8 cm3) at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. Sodium
methanethiosulfonate (30 mg, 0.22 mmol) was added, and the mixture
was heated at 50ꢀC overnight. The reaction was followed by TLC
(CHCl3–EtOAc–MeOH, 2:20:0.2). After 17 hours, the reaction
was allowed to cool to room temperature, and the solvent was eva-
porated under reduced pressure. The crude residue was purified by
silica chromatography (CHCl3–EtOAc–MeOH, 2:20:0.2) to give the
required lipid 26 (0.13 g, 74%) as a brown orange waxy solid. 1H
NMR d (500 MHz; CDCl3) 0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.6, 7.0, 6 H), 1.20–1.36 (m,
48 H), 1.37–1.47 (m, 4 H), 1.77–1.87 (m, 4 H), 3.03 (appt t, J ¼ 8.0,
8.3, 4 H), 3.37 (t, J ¼ 5.8, 5.8, 2 H), 3.41 (s, 3 H), 3.56–3.68 (m, 21
H), 3.72 (app t, J ¼ 4.8, 4.8, 2 H), 3.78 (t, J ¼ 5.8, 5.9, 2 H), 4.34
(app t, J ¼ 4.8, 4.8, 2 H); 13C NMR d (125 MHz; CDCl3) 14.1,
21.8, 22.6, 28.4, 29.0, 29.2, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 34.8,
36.6, 50.7, 51.7, 54.5, 65.2, 68.6, 69.9, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6, 170.1. MS-
FAB 3-NBA (m=z) 1045.5788 (M þ Naþ), C49H98O13S4Na requires
1045.5747.

3748
M. R. Hicks et al.
3-Hexadecylsulfanyl-2-hexadecylsulfanylmethyl Propionic Acid 2-[2-(2-{2-
[2-(2-Methanesulfonylsulfanylethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethoxy)ethoxy] Ethyl
Ester (27)
The compound was prepared according to the procedure described for 26
using 25 as precursor. The crude residue obtained was purified by silica
chromatography (CHCl3–EtOAc, 1:4) to give the target anchor lipid 27
1
(0.31 g, 90%) as a brown orange solid. H NMR d (400 MHz; CDCl3)
0.87 (t, J ¼ 6.0, 6.8, 6 H), 1.18–1.42 (m, 52 H), 1.50–1.57 (m, 4 H), 2.50
(app t, J ¼ 7.0, 7.8, 4 H), 2.75–2.86 (m, 5 H), 3.37 (t, J ¼ 5.8, 5.8, 2 H),
3.40 (s, 3 H), 3.60–3.65 (m, 16 H), 3.70 (app t, J ¼ 5.0, 5.0, 2 H), 3.79
(t, J ¼ 5.8, 5.8, 2 H), 4.27 (t, J ¼ 5.0, 5.0, 2 H); 13C NMR d (75 MHz;
CDCl3) 14.1, 22.7, 28.9, 29.2, 29.3, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 31.9, 32.6, 33.1,
36.6, 46.3, 50.7, 63.9, 69.1, 69.9, 70.4, 70.5, 70.6, 173.2. MS-FAB 3-
NBA (m=z) 981.5952 (M þ Naþ); C49H98O9S4Na requires 981.5991.
CONCLUSION
In summary, we have described an easy and efficient route to synthesize
mimetic lipid anchors containing a coupling methanethiosulfonate group
suitable to attach to a cysteine residue of a protein. These mimetic lipid–
coupled proteins can be used as models for many proteins naturally teth-
ered to membranes via lipid tails, and this strategy has been applied to the
study of fatal neurodegenerative diseases in cattle and humans.[8]
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This project was funded by the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Programme 5 of the Biological Biotechnology Science Reserach Council
to T. J. T. P. (Grant No. 88=BS516471). R. Pedrido thanks Xunta de
Galicia for the Isidro Parga Pondal Research Fellowship.
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Lipid Chain Synthesis
3749
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