Convenient Synthesis of (Z)-7- and (E)-9-dodecene-1-yl Acetate, Components of Some Lepidoptera Insect Sex Pheromone

Abstract

Were developed new and practical synthesis of (Z)-7-dodecene-1-yl acetate and (E)-9-dodecene-1-yl acetate. The routes involve, as the key step, the use of the mercury derivative of the terminal-alkyne w-functionalised as intermediate. The synthesis of (Z)-7-dodecene-1-yl acetate was based on a C6+C2=C8 and C8+C4=C12 coupling scheme, starting from 1,6-hexane-diol. The first coupling reaction took place between 1-tert-butoxy-6-bromo-hexane and lithium acetylide-ethylendiamine complex obtaining 1-tert-butoxy-oct-7-yne, which is transformed in di[tert-butoxy-oct-7-yne]mercury. The mercury derivative was directly lithiated and then alkylated with 1-bromobutane obtaining 1-tert-butoxy-dodec-7-yne. After acetylation and reduction with lithium aluminium hydride of 7-dodecyne-1-yl acetate gave (Z)-7-dodecene-1-yl acetate with 96 % purity. The synthesis of (E)-9-dodecene-1-yl acetate was based on a C8+C2=C10 and C10+C2=C12 coupling scheme, starting from 1,8-octane-diol. The first coupling reaction took place between 1-tert-butoxy-8-bromo-octane and lithium acetylide-ethylendiamine complex obtaining 1-tert-butoxy-dec-9-yne, which is transformed in di[tert-butoxy-dec-9-yne]mercury. The mercury derivative was directly lithiated and then alkylated with 1-bromoethane obtaining 1-tert-butoxy-dodec-9-yne. After reduction with lithium aluminium hydride of 1-tert-butoxy-(E)-9-dodecene and acetylation was obtained (E)-9-dodecene-1-yl acetate with 97 % purity.