Efficient synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-octanol, (R)-2-dodecanol, (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and (R)-2-methyl-4-octanol:: the pheromones of Myrmica scabrinodis, Crematogaster castanea, C-liengmei, C-auberti and Metamasius hemipterus

A simple and efficient synthesis of optically active insect pheromones, such as (R)- and (S)-3-octanol, (R)-2-dodecanol, (R)-2-methyl-4-heptanol and (R)-2-methyl-4-octanol starting from non-racemic beta-hydroxy sulfides has been established. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.