The asymmetric synthesis of (+)-sitophilure, the natural form of the aggregation pheromone of Sitophilus oryzae L. and Sitophilus zeamais M.

The asymmetric synthesis of (+)-sitophilure, the aggregation pheromone of Sitophilus oryzae L. and Sitophilus zeamais M., was carried out in 12 steps, 18% overall yield and 82% enantiomeric excess from the enzymatic reduction of methyl 3-oxopentanoate with S. cerevisiae in the presence of ethyl chloroacetate.

(+)-sitophilure; pheromone; asymmetric reduction; S. cerevisiae