Absolute configuration of sex pheromone for tea tussock moth,Euproctis pseudoconspersa (strand)via synthesis of (R)- and (S)-10, 14-dimethyl-1-pentadecyl isobutyrates.

(R)- and (S)-10,14-dimethyl-1-pentadecyl isobutyrates were synthesized from (S)- and (R)-citronellols, respectively. TheR enantiomer was as active as the natural pheromone but theS enantiomer was less active in the electrophysiological analyses, which provided conclusive proof that the absolute configuration of the natural pheromone isR.