(1S, 2R, 6RS)-1,2,6-Trimethyldecyl propionate, a lower homolog of the sex pheromone of known sawflies, strongly attracted Diprion nipponica, a popular species in Japan.
We describe efficient and flexible enantioselective syntheses of the active enantiomers of the pheromones of pine sawflies, including the species Diprion jingyuanensis, their homologs and, stereoisomers, as well as those identified from the Chinese species Diprion jingyuanensis, i.e., 126. A total of 48 compounds, including acetates 78–101 and propanoates 102–125, have been synthesized. Our general
leads to the corresponding secondary alkyllithiums with high retention of configuration. Subsequent quenching with various electrophiles such as Bu2S2, DMF, MeOB(OR)2, or Et2CO provides the desired products with retention of configuration. Furthermore, a transmetalation with CuBr⋅P(OEt)3 also allows retentive trapping with acid chlorides and ethylene oxide. The quenching of the resulting alkyllithiums