Syntheses of new compounds, 1,2-bis[15-(2',4'-hexadienoyloxy)pentadecanoyl]- and 1,2-bis[15-(2',4'hexadienoyloxy)dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3- via a simplified procedure are reported. The new approach utilizes the conversion of commercially available lactones into polymerizable bis-substituted phosphatidylcholines after two steps of reaction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.