Synthesis of (1R*,3R*,7R*)-3-Methyl-α-himachalene, the Racemate of the Male-Produced Sex Pheromone of the SandflyLutzomyia longipalpis from Jacobina, Brazil
Four stereoisomers (1a–d) of (±)-3-methyl-α-himachalene were synthesized by employing the intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of (±)-14 to (±)-18 as the key-step. The male-producedsexpheromone of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis was shown to possess the structure and relative configuration as depicted in 1c.