STEREOSELECTIVITY IN MAMMALIAN CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION - MALE-MOUSE PHEROMONES

Two male mouse pheromones, 3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DHB) and 2-sec- butyldihydrothiazole (SBT), are chiral molecules which were previously tested in their respective bioassays as racemic mixtures. The focus o f this study has been to determine the absolute configuration of their natural forms and its relation to stereospecific biological action. D HB was established as the R,R-enantiomer possessing biological activit y. Due to an extremely easy racemization of SBT under very mild condit ions, enantioselectivity of its transmission and its action at the rec eptor site appear to be of secondary importance.