C55-Dolichol: occurrence in pig liver and preparation by hydrogenation of plant undecaprenol

Abstract

Apart from the long-chain dolichols (C80-C110), pig liver also contains a family of much shorter polyprenols with dominating C55-polyprenol. This compound was identified as cis/trans-dihydroundecaprenol in which the OH-terminal isoprene residue was saturated. The number of internal trans isoprene residues in this compound was 3 in comparison with 2 such residues in long-chain C95-dolichol. Chemical preparation of dihydroundecaprenol with a selectively saturated OH-terminal isoprene residue from fully unsaturated plant [Trichosantes palmata] undecaprenol is presented.