This article deals with the synthesis of optically active components of insect pheromones, together with the determination of their absolute configurations and optical purities. Emphasis is also given to the syntheses of racemic forms of chiral pheromone components for which the preparation of the corresponding optically active forms has not yet been described. Furthermore, essential biological activity data of several chiral pheromone components are summarised. The literature has been surveyed through July 1977. 1. Introduction 2. Synthesis of Chiral Pheromone Components of Lepidoptera 3. Chiral Pheromone Components of Coleoptera 3.1 Scolytidae 3.2 Dermestidae 3.3 Curculionidae 3.4 Bruchidae 4. Chiral Pheromone Components of Hymenoptera 5. Chiral Pheromone Components of Isoptera 6. Chiral Pheromone Components of Blattodea 7. Conclusions