Insect pheromones reaction with alkenes

Intermolecular addition of radicals, generated by photo-electrochemical catalysis, to activated alkenes can also be brought about. The reaction of 66 is used as a key step in one synthesis of the insect pheromone, brevicomin [219]. The reaction of a secondary radical from 67 occurs at low cathode potentials and without photochemical assistance [219]. This illustrates the equiibrium between a secondary al-kylcobalt(m) species and the radical - cobalt(ii) pair. The carbon radical is eventually captured by reaction with the alkene. Further steps in the synthesis lead to four isomers of the pheromone, multistriatin, each of which is a pure enantiomer since... 

You can compare this method of forming Z-alkenes directly with the Wittig reaction in these two syntheses of another insect pheromone, that of the Japanese beetle. 

Like the double bond, the carbon-carbon triple bond is susceptible to many of the common addition reactions. In some cases, such as reduction, hydroboration and acid-catalyzed hydration, it is even more reactive. A very efficient method for the protection of the triple bond is found in the alkynedicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes (.e.g. 117 and 118), readily formed by the reaction of the respective alkyne with dicobalt octacarbonyl. In eneynes this complexation is specific for the triple bond. The remaining alkenes can be reduced with diimide or borane as is illustrated for the ethynylation product (116) of 5-dehydro androsterone in Scheme 107. Alkynic alkenes and alcohols complexed in this way show an increased structural stability. This has been used for the construction of a variety of substituted alkynic compounds uncontaminated by allenic isomers (Scheme 107) and in syntheses of insect pheromones. From the protecting cobalt clusters, the parent alkynes can easily be regenerated by treatment with iron(III) nitrate, ammonium cerium nitrate or trimethylamine A -oxide. ° ... 

Some insect sex pheromones are derivatives of long-chain alkenes in which a double bond has the Z(cw)-configuration. Bestmann et have reported that the Wittig reaction with aldehydes can be modified to give almost entirely the Z-isomer if potassium is used as base and HMPT as solvent. 

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