SYNTHESIS OF 2,6-DIMETHYLHEPTA-1,5-DIEN-3-YL ACETATE, THE PHEROMONE OF THE COMSTOCK MEALYBUG PSEUDOCOCCUS COMSTOCKI

Shimeket ABEGAZ, Alexei CRAVCENCO, Galina DRAGALINA*, Alexandru GUDIMA, Ivan IANEV Insect Monitoring R&D company “Biochemtech” *Moldova State University, Department of Analytical and Organic Chemistry

Rezumat

The Comstock mealybug (CMB) Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) (Rhynchota Pseudo-coccidae) is a highly polyphagous species widespread in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, USA and other regions. It is one of the most serious pest of apple, pear and other agricultural crops. Scientific investigations and field tests demonstrated that 2,6-dimethyl-l,5-heptadien-3-yl acetate is the most attractive one for these species. According to literature, synthesis of this pheromone suffers from low overall yield (cca 9%), as well as increases the self-cost of this compound. Hereby, we report an efficient synthetic route for obtaining of 2,6-dimethyl-l,5-heptadien-3-yl acetate with total yield more than 60%. Keywords: attractant, filed tests, agricultural crops, 1-Chloro-3-methylbut-2-ene, 2-Methylpropenal, 2,6-Dimethylhepta-1,5-dien-3-ol, 2,6-Dimethylhepta-1,5-dien-3-yl acetate, acetylation, optimization.