Synthetic and stereochemical aspects of pheromone chemistry

Abstract

Recent synthetic works on pheromones are described, the key steps in which are the enzymatic desymmetrizations of meso-diacetates or a meso-diol to give optically active monoacetates. The target molecules are the pheromones of the gypsy moth (3), the ruby tiger moth (4), the African palm weevil (5), the Asian palm weevil (6), the Israeli pine bast scale (7), and the spined citrus bug (42). The relationships between absolute configuration and bioactivity of pheromones are also summarized. © 1994 IUPAC