The conversion of steroidal lactones to ortho esters

1,5,7-Trioxaspiro[5.5]undecane, a pheromone analog with high biological activity for the olive fruit fly,Dacus oleae

l,5,7-Trioxaspiro[5.5]undecane, an analog of the major sex pheromone (olean) of the olive fruit fly, was synthesized via two different routes and tested for biological activity under laboratory and field conditions. In laboratory tests, its activity was comparable to that of olean, especially when a stabilizer or a high concentration was used. In field tests, its activity reached the level of olean only when a stabilizer and an open-type dispenser, which allows high rates of evaporation, were used. The residual activity of the analog dispensers did not exceed two weeks both under laboratory and field conditions compared to over four months for olean.