Oxidative degradation of eicosapentaenoic acid into polyunsaturated aldehydes

Eicosapentaenoic acid is converted in good overall yield to an α,β-ethylenic epoxide derivative. The oxidative cleavage of the epoxide ring with periodic acid in ether proceeded in part with acid-catalyzed rearrangement of the vinyl epoxide moiety prior to cleavage. Among the products were 2E- and 2Z, 5Z, 8Z, 11Z-tetradecatetraenal, 4-hydroxy-2E,6Z,9Z,12Z-pentadecatetraenal and (all-Z)-2-methoxy-3,6,9,12-pentadecatetraenal.