Stereoselective Synthiesis of Both Enantiomers of Disparlure from D-Glucose

Organocatalyzed epoxidation in the total synthesis of (-)-trans-, (+)-trans- and (+)-cis-disparlures

A simple, flexible and efficient organocatalyzed synthetic approach for the synthesis of (-)-trans-, (+)-trans- and (+)-cis-disparlures has been described. The pivotal reaction sequence comprises organocatalyzed asymmetric Jørgensen epoxidation, Wittig olefination, migration of epoxide and Mitsunobu inversion reaction. Excellent enantiomeric purity (≥99%) was achieved during the synthesis of disparlure enantiomers by the Jørgensen epoxidation key step.

Synthesis of disparlure and monachalure enantiomers from 2,3-butanediacetals

2,3-Butanediacetal derivatives were used for the stereoselective synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted cis-epoxides. The procedure was applied for the preparation of both enantiomers of disparlure and monachalure, the components of the sex pheromones of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and the nun moth (Lymantria monacha) using methyl (2S,3R,5R,6R)-3-ethylsulfanylcarbonyl-5,6-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2-carboxylate as the starting material.