Chiral synthesis of (2s,3s,7s)-3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-yl acetate and propionate, potential sex pheromone components of the pine saw-fly neodiprion sertifer (geoff.)
A synthesis of (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-yl acetate () and propionate () is described. (2S)-2-Methyldecan-1-yl lithium () was reacted with (3S,4S)-3,4-dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone () to yield the ketoalcohol which upon Huang-Minlon reduction furnished (2S,3S,7S)-3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol (). Acylations gave the esters and . The (2S)-2-methyldecan-1-yl lithium was obtained via asymmetric synthesis