Sex pheromonal activity of (+)-bornyl acetate and related compounds to the American cockroach.

Many compounds related to (+)-bornyl acetate (a sex phero-mone mimic of the American cockroach) were synthesized and tested for sex pheromonal activity. All compounds except for esters of (+)- and (-)-borneol were inactive, whereas (+)-bornyl acetate (Ib) and propionate (Ic) showed the activity at 0.05 mg. Although (-)-bornyl propionate (IVc) is the enantiomer of Ic, it exhibited weak activity at 0.5 mg dose. On the basis of the behavioral assay results, important chemical factors in Ib for pheromonal activity were elucidated and are discussed in connection with another mimic, (+)-trans-verbenyl acetate. The M/ F ratio index in EAG was evaluated for both active and inactive compounds. The index demonstrated a good correlation with the behavioral activity.