Absolute Configurations of Zingiberenols Isolated from Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Rhizomes.

Two stereoisomeric zingiberenols in ginger were identified as (3R,6R,7S)-1,10-bisaboladien-3-ol (2) and (3S,6R,7S)-1,10-bisaboladien-3-ol (5). Absolute configurations were assigned by utilizing 1,10-bisaboladien-3-ol stereoisomers and two gas-chromatography columns: a 25 m Hydrodex-ß-6TBDM and 60 m DB-5MS. The C-6 and C-7 absolute configurations in both zingiberenols match those of zingiberene present abundantly in ginger rhizomes. Interestingly, zingiberenol 2 has recently been identified as a male-produced sex pheromone of the rice stink bug, Oebalus poecilus, thus indicating that ginger plants may be a potential source of the sex pheromone of this bug.

Determination of the stereochemistry of the aggregation pheromone of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica.

Preparation of a complete stereoisomeric library of 1,10-bisaboladien-3-ols and selected 10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ols was pivotal for the identification of the aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Herein, we describe syntheses of the remaining 10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ols, and provide additional evidence on the assignment of relative and absolute configurations of these compounds by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of an intermediate, (3S,6R,7R,10S)-1-bisabolen-3,10,11-triol. To demonstrate the utility of this stereoisomeric library, we revisited the aggregation pheromone of the harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica, and showed that the male-produced pheromone consists of two stereoisomers of 10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol. Employment of eight cis-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol stereoisomeric standards, two enantioselective GC columns, and NMR spectroscopy enabled the identification of these compounds as (3S,6S,7R,10S)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol and (3S,6S,7R,10R)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol, which are produced by M. histrionica males in 1.4:1 ratio.

Discovery of the aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) through the creation of stereoisomeric libraries of 1-bisabolen-3-ols.

We describe a novel and straightforward route to all stereoisomers of 1,10-bisaboladien-3-ol and 10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol via the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of trimethylaluminum to diastereomeric mixtures of cyclohex-2-enones 1 and 2. The detailed stereoisomeric structures of many natural sesquiterpenes with the bisabolane skeleton were previously unknown because of the absence of stereoselective syntheses of individual stereoisomers. Several of the bisabolenols are pheromones of economically important pentatomid bug species. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography of underivatized triol 13 provided unequivocal proof of the relative and absolute configurations. Two of the epoxides, (3S,6S,7R,10S)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol (3) and (3R,6S,7R,10S)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol (4), were identified as the main components of a male-produced aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, using GC analyses on enantioselective columns. Both compounds attracted female, male, and nymphal H. halys in field trials. Moreover, mixtures of stereoisomers containing epoxides 3 and 4 were also attractive to H. halys, signifying that the presence of additional stereoisomers did not hinder attraction of H. halys and relatively inexpensive mixtures can be used in monitoring, as well as control strategies. H. halys is a polyphagous invasive species in the U.S. and Europe that causes severe injury to fruit, vegetables, and field crops and is also a serious nuisance pest.

Sex pheromone of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, contains an unusual cyclobutanoid monoterpene.

Two compounds that together constitute the female sex pheromone of the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus, were isolated, identified, and synthesized. They are (R)-2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate [common name is (R)-lavandulyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate] and [(R)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(1-methylethylidene)cyclobutyl]methyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate [which we refer to as (R)-maconelliyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate]. Maconelliol is an unusual cyclobutanoid monoterpene, and its structure has been established by enantioselective synthesis from precursors of known structure and configuration. A 1:5 synthetic mixture of the two RS esters (1 microg per rubber septum) proved to be a potent attractant of males in field bioassays. The pheromone component, maconelliyl 2-methylbutanoate, represents a heretofore undescribed natural product.