Rapid synthesis of isoprenoid diphosphates and their isolation in one step using either thin layer or flash chromatography

A rapid procedure for the preparation of short-chain (C5-C20) isoprenoid diphosphates is described. It is based on the method of Cornforth and Popjak [Methods Enzymol., 15 (1969) 359–390] which utilizes bis-triethylammonium phosphate in trichloroacetonitrile as the phosphorylating reagent. The reaction takes place in 15 min, and product isolation, previously requiring several steps, is done in a single step using either preparative thin-layer chromatography or flash chromatography on silica. From a single TLC plate, up to 50 μmol of pure farnesyl diphosphate (i.e., ca. 20 mg) can be isolated, while up to 1200 μmol can be isolated using a standard flash chromatography column.