Copper-catalysed coupling of undec-10-enylmagnesium bromide with ω-functionalised halogenoalkanes as a key reaction for the synthesis of novel bipolar phospholipids with different head groups and chain length

The Grignard reagent from 11-bromoundec-1-ene undergoes copper-catalysed coupling with ω-functionalised halogenoalkanes of different chain length to provide long-chain ω-substituted alkenes. The reaction conditions for this have been studied to optimise the products yields, especially those for the preparation of the C32 unit. Functionalised alkenes are suitable building blocks for the direct synthesis of bipolar phospholipids with different head groups.