Biocatalytic synthesis of (S)-2-tridecanyl acetate and (S)-2-pentadecanyl acetate, aggregation pheromone components ofDrosophila mulleri andD. busckii, by enantioselective hydrolysis with lipase.

The two chiral pheromone acetates, (S)-2-tridecanyl acetate and (S)-2-pentadecanyl acetate, were synthesized with an enantiomeric excess (e.e.) of almost 100% byPseudomonas cepacia lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of their corresponding racemic acetates in an acetone-water solvent system.