Synthesis of racemate and enantiomers of 15-methyltritriacontane, sex-stimulant pheromone of stable flyStomoxys calcitrans L.

The synthesis of the racemate and two enantiomers of 15-methyltritriacontane (1), an active component of the sex-stimulant pheromone ofStomoxys calcitrans L., is described. Racemic 15-methyltritriacontane was synthesized in four steps from 1-hexadecene with a 72% overall yield. Both theR- andS-enantiomers were synthesized in eight steps, respectively, starting from optically pure (R)-(+)-pulegone.