New synthesis of serricornin,the sex pheromone of the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)

A new approach to the total synthesis of serricornin, the sex pheromone of the cigarette beetle, based on readily available (4S,5E)-4-methyhept-5-enenitrile was implemented.     

A new synthesis of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z,E</Emphasis>)-undec-5-enoic acids,the sex pheromone of the varied carpet beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthrenus verbasci</Emphasis>

A new synthesis of (Z,E)-undec-5-enoic acids with the natural isomer composition Z/E = 85 : 15, the sex pheromone of the varied carpet beetle Anthrenus verbasci was developed based on co-metathesis of cycloocta-1,5-diene and ethylene.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2540–2542, November, 2004.     

A new sesquiterpenoid produced by female Callosobruchus rhodesianus (Pic): a possible component of the sex attractant pheromone

(E)-6-Ethyl-2,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadienal was identified from female seed beetle, Callosobruchus rhodesianus (Pic), as an electroantennographic-detection (EAD) active compound in the male. The ratio of the (E)-6-ethyl-2,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadienal and (3S,6E)-2,3-dihydrohomofarnesal, previously identified as a sex attractant pheromone, was estimated at approximately 1:4.5. In combination with the stereoisomer-activity relationship of 2,3-dihydrohomofarnesal, we suggest that this new compound might function as a minor sex attractant pheromone in C. rhodesianus.     

Identification and Synthesis of Macrolide Pheromones of the Grain Beetle Oryzaephilus Surinamensis and the Frog Spinomantis Aglavei

Macrolide lactones, the so called cucujolides derived from unsaturated fatty acids, are aggregation pheromones of cucujid grain beetles. Thirty years ago, Oehlschlarger et al. showed that (3Z,6Z)‐dodeca‐3,6‐dien‐11‐olide ( 4 ) and the respective 12‐olide ( 7 ) attract the sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis, whereas (5Z,8Z,13R)‐tetradeca‐5,8‐dien‐13‐olide ( 5 ) increases the response synergistically. The frass of this beetle is attractive for its parasitoid Cephalonomia tarsalis, which potentially can be used for pest control. A GC/MS analysis of attractive frass showed the presence of 5 , together with an unknown isomer. Cucujolide V was tentatively identified also in the femoral glands, pheromone‐releasing structures, of the Madagascan mantelline frog Spinomantis aglavei. Therefore, a new route to synthesize doubly unsaturated macrolides allowing the flexible attachment of the side chain was developed. A straightforward method to obtain Z configured macrolides involves ring‐closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) followed by Lindlar‐catalyzed hydrogenation. This methodology was extended to homoconjugated diene macrolides by using RCAM after introduction of one Z configured double bond in the precursor by Wittig reaction. A tungsten benzylidyne complex was used as the catalyst in the RCAM reaction, which afforded the products in high yield at room temperature. With the synthetic material at hand, the unknown isomer was identified as the new natural product (5Z,8Z,12R)‐tetradeca‐5,8‐dien‐12‐olide, cucujolide X ( 8 ). Furthermore, the route also allowed the synthesis of cucujolide V in good yield. The natural products were identified by the synthesis of enantiomerically pure or enriched material and gas chromatography on chiral phases. The new macrolide (R)‐ 8 proved to be biologically active, attracting female O. surinamensis, but no males. The synthetic material allowed the identification of (R)‐ 5 in both the beetle and the frog.     

Studies on chiral thiophosphoric acids and their derivatives: 4. The stereospecific synthesis of optically active O-ethyl O-phenyl O-(1-methyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl) vinyl phosphorothionate

The stereoisomers (3 and 4) of O-ethyl O-phenyl O-(1-methyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl) vinyl phosphorothionate have been synthesized by the reaction of optically active O-ethyl O-phenyl phosphorothiochloride 2 with ethyl acetoacetate under different conditions. 3 (100% Z-isomer, determined by ¹H NMR) was synthesized by the reaction of 2 with ethyl sodio-acetoacetate in the mixed solvent of 1:3 toluene-dioxane at 50°C. 4 (>95% E-isomer) was obtained by the reaction of 2 with ethyl acetoacetate in presence of t-BuOK in DMSO at 15°C. 100% E-isomer 4 was separated from crude 4(>95% E-isomer) by column chromatography on silica gel (petroleum ether-ether 6:1). By this reaction either Z- or E-isomers were formed with inversion of the configuration at phosphorus atom. Thus, six stereoisomers of 3 and 4 which were prepared from 2 (RS, S, R) by the above method namely (RS)-Z, (R)-Z, (S)-Z and (RS)-E, (R)-E, (S)-E.     

Synthesis and Photoisomerization of 3-Cyano-6,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenylvinyl)-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one

The condensation of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with 3-cyano-4,6,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one leads to the formation of a crotonization product and a compound of the Michael adduct type. The main product of the photochemical conversion of (E)-3-cyano-6,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenylvinyl)-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one is the Z-isomer. Investigation of the photoisomerization of 3-cyano-6,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenylvinyl)-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one by the semiempirical AM1 method showed that in the ground state the E-isomer was thermodynamically more stable than the E-isomer. E-Z-photoisomerization is effected most probably through the lowest excited singlet state S₁.     

Synthesis of derivatives of (S)-2-alkanols, components of pheromones ofDrosophila mulleri andRhyzopertha dominica, from (S)-(+)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-diene

Effective routes for the synthesis of (S)-2-acetoxytridecane, the sex pheromone of the fruit flyDrosophila mulleri, and (S)-1-methylbutyl 2-methyl- and 2,4-dimethylpent-2E-enoates, components of the aggregation pheromone of the lesser grain borerRhyzopertha dominica, were developed on the basis of (S)-4-methylhex-5-en-1-yl tosylate accessible from (S)-(+)-dihydromyreene. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1929–1931, November, 2000.     

Synthesis of (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol,the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus,its racemate, (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers

(S)-Perillyl alcohol was converted to (R)-cryptone (91.5–93% ee) in six steps, which was then treated with methyllithium to give (1S,4R)-4-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, the aggregation pheromone of the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus. The racemic pheromone was also prepared by methylation of (±)-cryptone. Both (1R,4R)- and (1S,4S)-isomers (98% ee) of the pheromone were synthesized from the enantiomers of dihydrolimonene oxide.     

Bed Bug Aggregation Pheromone Finally Identified

Bed bugs have become a global epidemic and current detection tools are poorly suited for routine surveillance. Despite intense research on bed bug aggregation behavior and the aggregation pheromone, which could be used as a chemical lure, the complete composition of this pheromone has thus far proven elusive. Here, we report that the bed bug aggregation pheromone comprises five volatile components (dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)‐2‐hexenal, (E)‐2‐octenal, 2‐hexanone), which attract bed bugs to safe shelters, and one less‐volatile component (histamine), which causes their arrestment upon contact. In infested premises, a blend of all six components is highly effective at luring bed bugs into traps. The trapping of juvenile and adult bed bugs, with or without recent blood meals, provides strong evidence that this unique pheromone bait could become an effective and inexpensive tool for bed bug detection and potentially their control.     

Total Synthesis,Stereochemical Assignment,and Field‐Testing of the Sex Pheromone of the Strepsipteran Xenos peckii

The sex pheromone of the endoparasitoid insect Xenos peckii (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) was recently identified as (7E,11E)‐3,5,9,11‐tetramethyl‐7,11‐tridecadienal. Herein we report the asymmetric synthesis of three candidate stereostructures for this pheromone using a synthetic strategy that relies on an sp³–sp² Suzuki–Miyaura coupling to construct the correctly configured C7‐alkene function. Comparison of ¹H NMR spectra derived from the candidate stereostructures to that of the natural sex pheromone indicated a relative configuration of (3R*,5S*,9R*). Chiral gas chromatographic (GC) analyses of these compounds supported an assignment of (3R,5S,9R) for the natural product. Furthermore, in a 16‐replicate field experiment, traps baited with the synthetic (3R,5S,9R)‐enantiomer alone or in combination with the (3S,5R,9S)‐enantiomer captured 23 and 18 X. peckii males, respectively (mean±SE: 1.4±0.33 and 1.1±0.39), whereas traps baited with the synthetic (3S,5R,9S)‐enantiomer or a solvent control yielded no captures of males. These strong field trapping data, in combination with spectroscopic and chiral GC data, unambiguously demonstrate that (3R,5S,9R,7E,11E)‐3,5,9,11‐tetramethyl‐7,11‐tridecadienal is the X. peckii sex pheromone.     

Synthesis of 6(E)- and 6(Z)-(3-ethoxycarbonylpropyl)oximes of 16α,17α-cyclohexanopregn-4-ene-3,6,20-trione and study of their interaction with proteins of the rat uterine cytosol and blood serum

6(E)- and 6(Z)-(3-Ethoxycarbonylpropyl)- and -(3-carboxypropyl)oximes of 16,17-cyclohexanopregn-4-ene-3,6,20-trione were synthesized. The reactions of these ester ligands with pentarane-binding proteins of the uterine cytosol and blood serum were studied; the latter exhibits a higher affinity. The preferred binding of the oxime (E)-isomer relative to the (Z)-isomer was noted.     

The geometric isomers of methyl-2,4,6-decatrienoate, including pheromones of at least two species of stink bugs

All eight geometric isomers of methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate were synthesized from readily accessible starting materials by fully exploiting Wittig-type olefinations, and taking advantage of an easy separation of 2E and 2Z unsaturated esters. The aggregation pheromone of the brown-winged green bug, Plautia stali, methyl (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate (also a cross-attractant for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys), was expediently produced in two easy steps from (E)-4,4-dimethoxy-2-butenal in 55% yield. The sex pheromone of the red-shouldered stink bug, Thyanta pallidovirens, methyl (E,Z,Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate, was conveniently synthesized from 2,4-octadiyn-1-ol in 32% yield using in situ manganese dioxide oxidation-Wittig condensation in a key step.     

Synthetic studies aimed at the elucidation of the stereostructure of the aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol,produced by the male stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi

The male-produced aggregation pheromone of the stink bug Erysarcoris lewisi Distant was shown to be one of the two diastereomers of (2Z,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl)hept-2-en-1-ol by synthesizing and bioassaying (2E,6R)-, (2E,6S)-, (2Z,6R)-, and (2Z,6S)-isomers. These were synthesized from the enantiomers of citronellal by employing an intramolecular α-ketocarbene addition to a double bond and the E-selective or Z-selective olefination of a formyl group as the key steps. A reliable method was developed for the preparation of ethyl 2-(di-o-tolylphosphono)propanoate, Ando’s reagent for Z-selective olefination.     

Synthesis of 3(Z)-dodecen-12-olide—an aggregation pheromone of the flat grain beetleCryptolestes pusillus (Coleoptera:Cucujidae)

3(Z)-Dodecen-12-olide, an aggregation pheromone of the flat grain beetle, was obtained using 1,4-cis-hydrogenation of ethyl 12-hydroxydodeca-2,4-dienoate as a key step. The dienoic ester was synthesized from 10-hydroxydec-2-enal, which, in turn, was prepared from its saturated precursorvia acetal α-bromination followed by phenylselenation/oxidative elimination/hydrolysis. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1300–1303, July, 2000.     

Stereoselectivity and nonmigratory insertion mechanism of dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate into metallocene-hydride of Cp2M(L)H [Cp = η5-C5H5; M = Nb,V; L = CO,P (OMe)3]: A DFT study

The insertion of an alkyne into transition metal–hydrogen bonds is a key elementary step in catalytic polymerization and hydrogenation processes. It was found that a (Z)- or (E)-type alkyenyl complex can be formed through trans/cis stereospecific processes. In this work, the reaction mechanism of Cp₂M(L)H [Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅; M = Nb, V; L = CO, P (OMe)₃] with dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate (DMAD), and the factors influencing the stereoselectivity have been investigated based on density functional theory calculations. The calculated results show that all of the reactions are exothermic. For L = CO, the Z-isomer product forms first even at low temperatures because of the low Gibbs free energy barrier (ΔG^#). Then the Z-pro converts to E-pro , while for L = P (OMe)₃, the exclusive product is the E-isomer. For different metal centers, the reaction mechanisms of the Cp₂M(CO)H + DMAD (M = Nb and V) reaction are similar, while their products are different at room temperature. For M = Nb, because the energy barrier of the isomerization from Z-pro to E-pro is low and the relative free energies of Z-pro and E-pro are almost equal, both Z-pro and E-pro can be obtained. While for the Cp₂V(CO)H + DMAD reaction, only the Z-pro can be obtained under mild conditions, E-pro can be obtained only at high temperatures. For the Cp₂M(CO)H+DMAD(M=V and Nb) reactions, the formation of E-isomer products proceeds via two five-membered ring transition states. The calculated results provide an reasonable explanation for the experimental results and predict a new insertion reaction.     

A Concise Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-Neomanoalides

The first synthesis of (Z)-neomanoalide ( 4 ) and an improved synthesis of its (E)-isomer 3 was accomplished in a concise, regiocontrolled manner by exploiting 2-[(tert-butyl)dimethylsiloxy]-4{[(tert-butyl)dimethylsiloxy]-methyl}furan ( 6 ) as the key reagent. Lithiation of 6 and subsequent reaction with the (2Z)- or (2E)-isomer of (6E)-3-{[(tert-butyl)dimethylsiloxy]methyl}-7-methyl-9-(2′,6′,6′-trimethylcyclohex-1′-enyl)nona-2,6-dienyl bromide ( 5 ), followed by hydrolysis, afforded the corresponding neomanoalide.     

Isolierung von 10′-Apo-β-carotin-10′-ol und (3R)-10′-Apo-β-carotin-3,10′-diol (Galloxanthin) aus Rosenblüten. 5. Mitteilung über Rosenfarbstoffe

Isolation of 10′-Apo-β-carotene-10′-ol and (3R)-10′-Apo-β-carotene-3,10′-diol (Galloxanthin) from Rose Flowers The novel (all-E)-10′-apol-β-carotene-10′-ol ( 2 ) and (all-E,3R)-10′-apo-β-carotene-3,10′-diol ( 5 ) have been isolated from petals of one yellow species and various whitish or yellow blend varieties of rose cultivars. Each (all-E)-compound is accompanied by a (Z)-isomer, probably the (9Z)-isomer. Diol 5 proved to be identical with galloxanthin, an apo-10′-carotenol previously isolated from the retina of chicken.     

The mechanisms of photochromic transformations of 2-indolylfulgides

Photochromic properties of 2-indolylfulgides, namely, Z-3-[1-(1,3-dimethyl-1H-indol-2-yl)ethylidene]-4-isopropylidenetetrahydrofuran-2,5-dione andE-3-isopropylidene-4-(1-methyl-1H-indol-2-ylmethylidene)tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dione, were studied. The quantum yields of their photochemical isomerizations in toluene and the rate constant of the dark ring-opening in ethanol were determined. The fluorescence spectra of the open and cyclic forms of 2-indolylfulgides were measured. It was assumed that the excited-stateZ-isomer can be transformed into a cyclic isomer without intermediacy of anE-isomer in the ground state. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1026–1029, June, 2000.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Loroxanthin (=(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ϵ-Carotin-3, 19, 3′-triol)

Absolute Configuration of Loroxanthin (=(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-Carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol) ‘Loroxanthin’, isolated from Chlorella vulgaris, was separated by HPLC. methods in two major isomers, a mono-cis-loroxanthin and the all-trans-form. Solutions of the pure isomers easily set up again a mixture of the cis/trans-isomers. Extensive ¹H-NMR. spectral measurements at 400 MHz allowed to establish the 3′, 6′-trans-configuration at the ?-end group in both isomers and the (9E)-configuration in the mono-cis-isomer. The absolute configurations at C(3) and C(6′) were deduced from CD. correlations with synthetic (9Z, 3R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19-diol ( 5 ) and (9E, 3R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19-diol ( 6 ), respectively. Thus, all-trans-loroxanthin ( 3 ) is (9Z, 3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol and its predominant mono-cis-isomer is (9E, 3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol ( 4 ). Cooccurrence in the same organism and identical chirality at all centers suggest that loroxanthin is biosynthesized from lutein ( 2 ).     

Four- and Eight-Carbon Homologation of Benzaldehyde by (1Z,3Z)-Butyltelluro-1,3-Butadiene: Synthesis of Navenone B: Alarm Pheromone of the Mollusk Navanax inermis

Four- and eight-carbon homologation of benzaldehydes is described. The hydrotelluration of (Z)-1-methoxy-but-1-en-3-ynes 1 afforded (1Z,3Z)-1-butyltelluro-4-methoxy-1,3-butadiene 2, this compound 2 underwent a Te/Li exchange reaction, and the butadienyllithium 3 obtained reacted with benzaldehyde to form the corresponding allylic alcohol 4 with total retention of configuration. The allylic alcohol 4a formed underwent acidic hydrolysis, resulting in 5-phenyl-(2E,4E)-dienal 5 (four-carbon homologation of benzaldehyde). Product 5 reacted with the butadienyllithium 3, affording the alcohol 9-phenyl-(1Z,3Z,6E,8E)-1-methoxy-5-hydroxy-nonatetraene 6, which was hydrolyzed or spontaneously transformed into 9-phenyl-(2E,4E,6E,8E)-tetraenal 7, completing the eight-carbon homologation of benzaldehyde. Reaction of 9-phenyl-nona-(2E,4E,6E,8E)-tetraenal 7 with methyllithium in tetrahydrofuran afforded (3E,5E,7E,9E)-10-phenyl-deca-3,5,7,9-tetraen-2-ol 8. The product of the reaction described was employed in the synthesis of (3E,5E,7E,9E)-10-phenyl-deca-3,5,7,9-tetraen-2-one 9, which is known as navenone B, an alarm pheromone of the mollusk Navanax inermis.