PHEROMONE SYNTHESIS .174. SYNTHESIS OF (5R,11S)-5,11-DIMETHYLHEPTADECANE AND (S)-2,5-DIMETHYLHEPTADECANE, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR COMPONENTS OF THE SEX-PHEROMONE OF THE GEOMETRID MOTH, LAMBDINA-FISCELLARIA-LUGUBROSA

(5R,11S)-5,11-Dimethylheptadecane (1), the major component of the fema le-produced sex pheromone of the western hemlock looper (Lambdina fisc ellaria lugubrosa), was synthesized by starting from the enantiomers o f methyl 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate (3). (S)-2,5-Dimethylheptadecane of (2), the minor and synergistic component of the pheromone, was als o synthesized by starting from (S)-citronellol (4).