Synthesis and field bioassay of the Israeli pine bast scale, Matsucoccus josephi, female sex pheromone

We report the first synthesis of the two components of the female sex pheromone of Matsucoccus josephi (2E,4E,8E)-4,6-dimethyl-2,4,8-decatrien-7-one (1) and (2E,4Z,8E)-4,6-dimethyl-2,4,8-decatrien-7-one (2) utilizing the Reformatzky and Wittig reactions as key steps. A mixture of 1 and 2 and the separate isomers were bioassayed in a pine forest indicating that E isomer 1 is much more active than 2 and is also a kairomone for a predator.