Synthesis of (4E,6Z,10Z)-hexadeca-4,6,10-trien-1-ol and (4E,6E,10Z)-hexadeca-4,6,10-trien-1-ol, the pheromone components of cocoa pod borer moth Conopomorpha cramerella

Abstract

A concise and efficient synthesis of the pheromone components of the cocoa pod borer moth, namely (4E,6Z,10Z)-hexadeca-4,6,10-trien-1-ol and (4E,6E,10Z)-hexadeca-4,6,10-trien-1-ol, starting from commercially available materials, was reported. The overall yield was 30.4% and 27.4%, respectively. The stereoselective formation of (E,Z)- or (E,E)-conjugated double bond relied on Sonogashira coupling with (E)-5-bromopent-4-en-1-ol prepared from (E)-5-bromopent-4-enal and the stereoselective hydrogenation of the enyne, while the 10Z-double bond was formed by Wittig reaction from 4-hydroxybutanal and n-hexyltriphenylphosphonium bromide.