Synthesis and use of omega-3 and omega 6 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFA)

1 . A method of coupling a long chain hydrocarbon to an extender hydrocarbon to form a very long chain hydrocarbon having at last 28 carbon atoms comprising:

i. reacting a long chain hydrocarbon, having a nucleophillic displacement group on one end, with an extending reagent,

ii. wherein the extending reagent comprises a nucleophillic attacking group and an extender hydrocarbon chain having a protecting functional group on one end, and

iii. wherein the coupling is done in the presence of an activating catalyst.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the protecting functional group is selected from an ester and an ether.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 where the nucleophillic displacement group is a halogen.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the extending reagent is selected from a Grignard extender reagent and a zinc extender reagent.

5 - 38 . (canceled)

39 . A method of lengthening a polyunsaturated fatty acid to form an ester comprising:

a. reducing an ester of a first polyunsaturated fatty acid to form a primary alcohol;

b. oxidizing the primary alcohol to form an aldehyde; and

c. contacting the aldehyde with an extender reagent to form an elongated ester.

40 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising transesterifying a glyceride to form the first polyunsaturated fatty acid.

41 - 43 . (canceled)

44 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the glyceride is derived from an algae cultured in a fermentation medium.

45 - 61 . (canceled)

62 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the reducing is conducted in the presence of at least one of lithium aluminum hydroxide (LAH) and tetrahydrofuran (THF).

63 - 64 . (canceled)

65 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the oxidizing is conducted in the presence of at least one of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), oxalyl chloride and triethylamine (Et 3 N).

66 - 68 . (canceled)

69 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the contacting is conducted in the presence of at least one of CuCN, LiC, titanium propoxide (Ti(i-OPr) 4 ) and tetrahydrofuran (THF).

70 - 75 . (canceled)

76 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising hydrolyzing the elongated ester to form an elongated second polyunsaturated fatty acid.

77 . The method of claim 76 , further comprising removal of an alcohol moiety from the elongated ester in the presence of at least one of diphenylsilane hydrochloride (Ph 2 Si HCl), indium trichloride (InCl 3 ), and dichloroethane (CH 2 ClCH 2 Cl).

78 . An isolated C28-C38 PUFA, an analog thereof, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof produced by the method of claim 39 .

79 . (canceled)

80 . A composition comprising at least one isolated C28-C38 PUFA according to claim 78 , an analog thereof, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof, and optionally a compound selected from SDA, GLA, ARA, DPAn-6, DPAn-3, DTAn-6, DHA, and EPA.

81 - 84 . (canceled)

85 . An oil comprising at least about 10 μg, at least about 50 μg, or at least about 100 μg of at least one isolated VLC-PUFA according to claim 78 per gram of oil.

86 . The oil of claim 85 , wherein the isolated VLC-PUFA is selected from C28:4, 5 and 6 n3 and n6 PUFAs, C32:4, 5 and 6 n3 and n6 PUFAs, C34:4, 5 and 6 n3 and n6 PUFAs; and C36:4, 5 and 6 n3 and n6 PUFAs.

87 - 135 . (canceled)

136 . A method comprising clinical dietary management of retinal health in an individual in need thereof by administering an effective amount of a VLC-PUFA to said individual.

137 . A method comprising clinical dietary management of degenerative eye condition selected from macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease in an individual in need thereof by administering an effective amount of a VLC-PUFA to said individual.

138 - 144 . (canceled)

145 . The method of claim 136 , wherein the VLC-PUFA is selected from C34:6n3, C34:5n3, C34:4n6, C28:6n3, C28:5n3 and 28:4n6.

146 - 152 . (canceled)

153 . The method of claim 145 , wherein the isolated VLC-PUFA is chemically synthesized de novo by a chemical synthesis of claim 1 .