Total synthesis of the enantiomers of Aspidiotus nerii sex pheromone

The synthesis of all possible isomers of the female sex pheromone of Aspidi otus nerii is described using as key step an intramolecular ester enolate a lkylation reaction for the formation of the cyclobutane ring with a good co ntrol of the relative configurations of the asymmetric centers. The configu rations of the stereogenic centers of the natural pheromone are determined by comparison of the biological activities of the synthetic compounds with the natural pheromone. (C) Academie des sciences/lsevier, Paris.