Concise Syntheses of Insect Pheromones Using Z-Selective Cross Metathesis

摘要

The use of insect sex pheromones to limit specifically targeted pest populations has gained increasing popularity as a viable, safe, and environmentally friendly alternative to insecticides. While broad-spectrum insecticides are toxic compounds that have been shown to adversely affect human health, extensive studies have shown that insect pheromones are nontoxic and safe for human consumption at the levels used in pest control practices. Female sex pheromones are mainly employed in pest control in a process termed mating disruption. This involves dispersing pheromones over a large area, overloading the sensory organs of male insects and preventing them from locating and mating with females who are releasing a much smaller amount of the same pheromone blends; this strategy has proven to reduce specific insect populations dramatically. To date, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved approximately twenty lepidopteran female sex pheromones as active ingredients for pest control.