Synthesis of (-)-Invictolide, the Pheromone Component of the Red Imported Fire Ant

Abstract

(-)-Invictolide [(3R, 5R, 6S, 1'R)-3, 5-dimethyl-6-(1'-methylbutyl)-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one] was synthesized in 16 steps from 2-methylpentanal.