Highly efficient preparation of selectively isotope cluster-labeled long chain fatty acids via two consecutive C(sp3)-C(sp3) cross-coupling reactions.

An efficient synthesis involving two copper-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl coupling reactions has been designed to easily access doubly isotope-labeled fatty acids. Such NMR- and IR-active compounds were obtained in excellent overall yields and will be further used for determining the conformation of an alkyl chain of lipidic biomolecules upon interaction with proteins.