Synthesis of the male stable fly polyene (Z,Z)-1,7,13-pentacosatriene and its geometrical isomers

Abstract

The four geometrical isomers of 1,7,13-pentacosatriene were synthesized from 1,7-octadiyne. Two of the required isomers were synthesized using known methodology. Hydrogenation of acetylenic linkages were employed to produce predominantly cis alkenes, and alkali metal/amine reduction was used to produce a trans alkene. It was thus possible to produce the (Z,Z) and the (Z,E) isomers. Methods for olefin inversion were then employed to obtain the other two isomers.