Abstract
Rosefuran and per ill en e were isolated from the opisthonotal glands secretion of the Tyrophagus neiswanderi mite. A facile synthesis of the former was accomplished by the lithiation of 3-methylfuran with butyllithium-tetramethylethylenediamine, and a subsequent reaction with 3-methyl-2-butenylbromide. A mixture of rosefuran, 4-methyl-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-furan and 3-methyl-2, 5-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-furan was obtained in a high yield. The occurrence of these and other recently identified monoterpenoids, namely, α- and β-acaridial and 2, 3-epoxyneral, is discussed relative to the CP-Sil 19 CB column profiles as worthy for the identification of economically important mites of the genus Tyrophagus, which is a difficult but essential task for the successful application of the speciesspecific alarm pheromones in the management of these pests.
