Preparation of pentafluorobenzyl esters of arachidonic acid lipoxygenase metabolites : Analysis by gas chromatography and negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

5-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and leukotriene B 4 have recently been shown to possess potent chemotactic and chemokinetic properties. Because of the very low concentrations found in certain biological systems, negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry has been investigated as a potential assay method for detecting these compounds. A facile derivatization to form the pentafluorobenzyl esters, and clean up are reported for these compounds at the 15-ng level. Gas chromatographic properties, negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectra, and positive-ion electron impact spectra are reported for the pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of 5-HETE and leukotriene B 4 isomers.