An unprecedented series of C16 oxylipins (1–8) has been characterized from the marine diatom Thalassiosira rotula.
Absolute stereochemistry of the major alcohols 2 and 3 was determined to be 9S by spectroscopic and chemical
methods. All the described products are formally derived by unprecedented enzymatic oxidation of C16 fatty acids.
Conversion of hexadeca-6,9,12-trienoic acid (C16:3 x-4) into 3 unequivocally established the occurrence of (at least)
a specific 9S-oxygenase activity. To the best of our knowledge, the present data reveal for the first time the existence
of an organic network of oxygenase-mediated transformations that require C16 fatty acids as substrates in living cells
