Trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene (trans-resveratrol, RES) exhibits very low bioavailability due to extensive conjugative metabolism. Whether RES metabolites exhibit pharmacologic activity is of great interest. The present study aimed at synthesis of monoconjugates of RES – the 3- and 4′ monosulfates (R3S and R4′S), and the 3- and 4′ monoglucuronides (R3G and R4′G). Synthesis, purification, and yield are described. Synthesized metabolites were utilized to develop a sensitive LC–MSn assay for direct quantitation of all analytes. The assay was validated for intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy. Synthesis of RES conjugates and development and validation of a sensitive bioanalytical assay were applied to pharmacokinetic evaluation of RES and its circulating monoconjugates in C57BL mice. The study is a first report of direct quantitation of RES monosulfates and monoglucuronides. These results will aid in characterizing the disposition of RES and its major or active metabolites in vivo.Highlights► Synthesis and purification of R3S, R4′S, R3G, and R4′G. ► Development and validation of highly sensitive LC–MSn assay for all analytes. ► Application to pharmacokinetic studies in a mouse model.

Attempts to prepare substituted chromones as novel retinoids revealed that some chromones were unstable under Wadsworth–Horner–Emmons reaction conditions. Hence, Wittig reactions were used to prepare chromone-based compounds as potential retinoids. Firstly, Wittig reagents prepared from 3-bromomethyl-chromen-4-one were reacted with olefinic-aldehydes to provide the target compounds with all-trans side chains in good yield. The approach supplies a useful general route to structurally diverse chromone-based compounds possessing a variety of side chains. Sequential Wittig reactions were used also to prepare a chromone-based retinoid. These novel compounds were evaluated in binding assays and a high affinity RAR ligand was identified. Crystal structures obtained for two key precursors aided the interpretation of binding data.