Synthesis of 2-[6-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)hexyl]oxiranecarboxylic Acid: a Selective Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase-1 Inhibitor

Carnitine palmitoyltransferases 1 and 2 (CPT-1 and CPT-2) catalyze the transfer of long chain fatty acids between carnitine and coenzyme A. Unlike CPT-2, CPT-1 exists in at least two isoforms with different physical and kinetic properties. Liver and skeletal muscle each contain a different isoform of CPT-1. Cardiac muscle contains both isoforms, and the minor component is identical to the isoform found in the liver. 2-[6-(2,4-Dinitrophenoxy)hexyl]oxiranecarboxylic acid (2) was reported to be a selective inhibitor for the liver isoform of CPT-1. A synthesis of 2 is described here which involves the reaction of diethyl malonate with 1-bromo-6-phenoxyhexane.