Recent advances in the synthesis of insect pheromones: an overview from 2013 to 2022

Abstract

Pheromones are generally produced by insects in submicrogram amounts which makes it difficult to elucidate their chemical structures. Synthetic approaches are therefore necessary for the unambiguous identification of these natural products.

Aspongopyrimidine A, a N-Peralkylated Histidine Zwitterion from Aspongopus chinensis against Alzheimer’s Disease Targeting MAPRE3

“…Secondary metabolites in plants and microorganisms have been shown to be pharmacologically active substances, and macromolecules such as proteins or peptides in insects are generally considered to be of medicinal value. Evidence shows that insects make use of small molecules for chemical defense or chemical communication. − As a result, volatile compounds in insects have been given much attention in the past decades from a view of chemical ecology. − A recent example is that 4-vinylanisole was found to be a pheromone in locusts responsible for aggregation, unveiling the disaster caused by locust aggregation . In spite of this, both the structure types of small molecules in insects and their medicinal significance remain largely unknown .…”

Mild and Selective Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Compounds Using Mn/Water as a Hydrogen Gas Source

“…17 The semihydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes is also an important process in organic chemistry. This reaction has been applied to the preparation of useful building blocks for the synthesis of high-value chemicals or natural products, 25 which include a double bond in defined (E) or (Z) configuration. 26 Semihydrogenation to give (Z)-alkenes is usually performed under heterogeneous conditions using Lindlar's catalyst as the main reagent.…”