Application of an analytical modification of the iodolactonization reaction to selective detection of Δ5 (Δ4) unsaturated fatty acids

Abstract An analytical method using the iodolactonization reaction is proposed for determination of the family of Δ5 (Δ4) unsaturated fatty acids in complex lipid mixtures. The method has been tested on fatty acids isolated from rat liver and proved to be suitable for selective analysis of the content of Δ5 (Δ4) acids in 10–30 mg of total FAs. The method was used for analysis of Δ5 fatty acids (Δ5 FAs) in plant lipids of Pinus koraiensis seeds and in lipids of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus . The structure of Δ5 FAs was confirmed by chromatographic and mass-spectrometric analyses. The method has made it possible to identify Δ5 fatty acids 14:1 and 19:1 in lipids of S. nudus , which were not described earlier in this organism.