Access to 2,4-dien-6-ynoic acid esters using selenium chemistry. Formal synthesis of Z,Z-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol (trail pheromone mimic of the subterranian termite Reticulitermes virginicus) and Z,Z-dodeca-3,6-dien-11-olide (aggregation pheromone of the grain beetles Oryzaephilus mercartor and O-surinamensis)

Esters of 2,4-dien-6-ynoic acids were prepared from terminal acetylenes by lithiation, 1,2-addition to acrolein, orthoester Claisen-Johnson rearrangem ent and alpha-(4-methoxyphenyl)selenation/oxidative elimination to introduc e the alpha,beta-unsaturation.