Convenient Synthesis of (3R, 4S)-4-Methyl-3-hexanol and (S)-4-Methyl-3-hexanone, the Pheromones of Ants

Abstract

Synthesis of enantiopure pheromones I and II, both of them bearing chiral methyl branching and an α-oxygenated carbon centre, has been accomplished using compound 2 prepared from D-mannitol as the chiral precursor.

Keywords

• pheromones
• chiral methyl branching
• (R)-2
• 3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde
• a-oxygenated carbon centre