Why is it meaningful to synthesize enantiopure pheromones

Accordingly, enantioselective synthesis of a pheromone with known absolute configuration was the only realistic method to determine its absolute configuration and supply a sample in an amount sufficient for its biological evaluation. Of course, it was also possible to compare the chiroptical properties of the synthetic pheromone with those of the naturally occurring ones. These biological and physical comparisons of the natural pheromone with those of its synthetic enantiomers were the only way to determine the absolute configuration of a pheromone. 

It was clear in 1973 that the stereochemistry-bioactivity relationships among pheromones would be elucidated only after successful synthesis of both the pure enantiomers of pheromones. If a synthetic 

In summary, pheromone synthesis is a meaningful endeavor to verify the proposed structure, and also to supply a sufficient amount of a sample to biologists. I will now give a number of examples of pheromone synthesis. 

The key reaction in the new synthesis of 71 was olefin cross-metathesis between (R)-B and C to give acetate (R)-D. The alcohol obtained by saponification of (//)- ) showed [ab21 —5.98, while its (.S )-isomer showed [a]o21 +5.89. Trogodermal enantiomers as well as 3-methylhexadecane enantiomers showed [a]o values around 6. Accordingly, the criticism against our experimental data turned out to be without experimental support. It is dangerous to criticize others without solid experimental or theoretical support. 

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