3-Methyl-α-himachalene is confirmed, and the relative stereochemistry defined, by synthesis as the sex pheromone of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis from Jacobina, Brazil

Abstract

The structure of the sex pheromone produced by the male sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis, from the Jacobina region of Brazil, previously proposed tentatively as the novel homosesquiterpene 3-methyl-α-himachalene is confirmed by synthesis and biological activity; the relative stereochemistry is defined as 1RS,3RS,7RS by comparing the natural product with the four synthetic diastereoisomers.