Synthesis of All the Stereoisomers of 6-Methyl-2-octadecanone, 14-Methyl-2-octadecanone, and 6,14-Dimethyl-2-octadecanone, Sex Pheromone Components of the Lyclene dharma dharma Moth, from the Enantiomers of Citronellal

Abstract

The enantiomers of citronellal were converted to all the stereoisomers of 6-methyl-2-octadecanone, 14-methyl-2-octadecanone, and 6,14-dimethyl-2-octadecanone, the female-produced sex pheromone components of the Lyclene dharma dharma moth. Three well-established procedures, the Wittig reaction, alkylation of alkynes, and acetoacetic ester synthesis, were employed for the carbon-carbon bond formation to connect the building blocks.