Asymmetric Synthesis of 12(S)-HETE

(S) and (R) 12-HETE. endogenous eicosanoids. have recently been discovered to be implicated in a number of important biological activities. In particular. it has recently been reported by us that both the capsaicin-activated channel of sensory neurons and the cloned capsaicin receptor (VR1) are activated by the eicosanoids including these metabolites. We report herein a novel and efficient asymmetric synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched 12(S)-HETE via enzymatic kinetic resolution of the key allylic alcohol synthon. (omitted)