PGE1 is produced by the metabolism of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) by the cyclooxygenase pathway. PGE1 inhibits platelet aggregation (IC|50|= 40 nM) and increases vasodilation.13,14-dihydro-16,16-difluoro PGE1 is a biologically active metabolite of PGE1, inhibiting platelet aggregation with comparable potency to the parent compound. The addition of two electron-withdrawing fluorine atoms, which should stabilize the molecule against hydrolytic cleavage, may be expected to delay degradation in vivo. 13,14-dihydro-15(R,S)-hydroxy-16,16-difluoro PGE1-3,3′,4,4′-d4) contains four deuterium atoms at the 3, 3′, 4, and 4′ positions. It is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of 13,14-dihydro-15(R,S)-hydroxy-16,16-difluoro Prostaglandin E1 by GC- or LC-mass spectrometry (MS).
