General methodology for the synthesis of conjugated dienic insect sex pheromones

A general methodology for the synthesis of various types of dienic insect sex pheromones (Z-E, E-Z, Z-Z) is based on the carbocupration of acetylene by functionalised or non-functionalised lithium dialkyl cuprates, followed by the coupling of the resulting Z dialkenyl cuprates with functionalised or non-functionalised E or Z alkenyl iodides under Pd° catalysis. The following compounds were efficiently synthesized with a high degree of stereoisomeric purity: (E-Z)7, 9-dodecadien,-l-yl acetate 1 (Lobesia botrana), (E-Z)10, 12-hexadecadien,-l-ol 2 (Bombyx mori), (Z-E)9, 11-tetradecadien,-l-yl acetate 3Spodoptera littoralis), (Z-E)5, 7-dodecadien-l-ol 4 (Malascoma disstria), (Z-Z)11, 13-Hexadecadien-l-al 5 (Amyelois transitella), (Z)9,ll-dodecadien-l-yl acetate 6 (Diparopsis castanea) and (Z-Z)9,11-tridecadien-l-yl acetate 22 (a known “pseudo-pheromone”).