The (S)-enantiomers of (Z)- and (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecen-1-ol, 1 and 4, respectively, and of (Z)- and (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecenal, 6 and 7, respectively, which are sex pheromone components of dermestid beetles, have been synthesized in high optical purity starting from opticallypure (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol. The preparation of 1 has been carried out using a new general method for reducing stereoselectively