Abstract
Methyl 4-decenoate (10∶1ω6), methyl dodeca-3,6-dienoate (12∶2ω6), methyl tetradeca-5,8-dienoate (14∶2ω6) and methyl hexadeca-7,10-dienoate (16∶2ω6) were prepared by total synthesis. Rats raised on a fat-deficient diet for 2 1/2 months received 100 mg per day of one of the experimental acids or methyl linoleate for a period of 16 days. The liver lipids were extracted, converted to methyl esters and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Neither 10∶1ω6 nor 12∶2ω6 served as biosynthetic precursors for linoleate. Small amounts of 14∶2ω6 were convered to linoleate while 16∶2ω6 served as an efficient precursor for linoleate and longer chain ω6 acids. None of the short chain ω6 acids were incorporated directly into liver lipids.