Rapid synthesis of isoprenoid diphosphates and their isolation in one step using either thin layer or flash chromatography.

A rapid procedure for the preparation of short-chain (C s-C.) isoprenoid diphosphates is described . It is based on the method of Cornforth and Popjak [Methods Enzymol., 15 (1969) 359-390] which utilizes bis-triethylammonium phosphate in trichioroacetonitriie as the phosphorylating reagent . The reaction takes place in 15 min, and product isolation, previously requiring several steps, is done in a single step using either preparative thin-layer chromatography or flash chromatography on silica . From a single TLC plate, up to 50 μ mol of pure farnesyl diphosphate (i .e., ca. 20 mg) can be isolated, while up to 1200 μ mol can be isolated using a standard flash chromatography column.