PHOTOLABILE ‘CAGED’ FATTY ACIDS CONTAINING A 1-(2′-NITROPHENYL)-1,2-ETHANEDIOL MOIETY

1-(2′-Nitrophenyl)ethanediol[1] was used to esterify the carboxylic acid function of fatty acids to prepare photosensitive fatty acid precursors for biological studies. The synthesis, photochemistry, and biological properties of several model cis-unsaturated fatty acids including arachidonic acid are described. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.