Simplified chemical and radiochemical synthesis of 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, an endogenous ligand of cannabinoid receptors

Endocannabinoids have emerged as a new class of lipid mediators, with manifold roles in the central nervous system and in the periphery. Several studies have identified 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) as a major endogenous agonist of cannabinoid receptors. Here, the chemical synthesis of 2-AG is reported, along with the synthesis of its tritium-labeled derivative. These unlabeled and radiolabeled compounds are suitable tools for unravelling some metabolic routes and biological activities of 2-AG in various cells and tissues. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.