Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure isoprenoid building blocks: application in the synthesis of apple leafminer pheromones.

The first catalytic asymmetric procedure capable of preparing all 4 diastereoisomers (ee > 99%, de > 98%) of a versatile saturated isoprenoid building block was developed and the value of this new method was demonstrated in its application to the concise total synthesis of two pheromones.