EFFICIENT SEPARATION OF FATTY ACYL PRECURSORS OF SPODOPTERA-LITTORALIS SEX-PHEROMONE BY REVERSED-PHASE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Chromatographic conditions are reported for the efficient separation o f fatty acyl precursors of Spodoptera littoralis sex pheromone by reve rsed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The procedure was o ptimized with a mixture of phenacyl derivative standards, using an oct adecylsilane column, mixtures of acetonitrile-water, methanol-water, a nd methanol-isopropanol-water as mobile phases, and temperature contro l. This optimized method allowed the satisfactory separation of phenac yl esters obtained directly from S. littoralis sex pheromone gland ext racts. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.