Synthesis of all the stereoisomers of 6-methyl-2-octadecanone, 14-methyl-2-octadecanone, and 6,14-dimethyl-2-octadecanone, sex pheromone components of the Lyclene dharma dharma moth, from the enantiomers of citronellal

Abstract

The enantiomers of citronellal were converted to all the stereoisomers of 6-methyl-2-octadecanone, 14-methyl-2-octadecanone, and 6,14-dimethyl-2- octadecanone, the female-produced sex pheromone components of the Lyclene dharma dharma moth. Three wellestablished procedures, the Wittig reaction, alkylation of alkynes, and acetoacetic ester synthesis, were employed for the carbon-carbon bond formation to connect the building blocks.