Synthesis and biological activity of some structural analogs of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether).

Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether), a mediator of anaphylaxis and inflammation, is a 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine. Some analogs of PAF-acether were prepared by total synthesis or by partial synthesis from commercially available phospholipids and tested for platelet aggregating activity. This study indicated that the ether linkage at the position 1 of sn-glycerol and the short acyl chain at position 2 are structural features required for biological activity.