Characterization and synthesis of mono- and diphytanyl ethers of glycerol.

The methanolyzed lipids of the extreme halophile, Halobacterium cutirubrum, were separated into glycerol diether and glycerol monoether fractions. The diether was shown by synthesis to be 2,3-di-O-(3'R,7'R,11'R,15'-tetramethylhexadecyl)-sn-glycerol. The monoether fraction was separated by thin-layer chromatography on boric acid-impregnated silicic acid into about equal amounts of alpha- and -isomers. The alpha-isomer was found to be identical with the synthetic 3-O-(3'R,7'R,11'R,15'-tetramethylhexadecyl)-sn-glycerol, and the -isomer was identical with the synthetic 2-O-(3'R,7'R,11'R,15'-tetramethylhexadecyl) glycerol.