Mid Sweden University

6,10,14-Trimethylpentadecan-2-one (Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone; HHA) previously has been found to be a major component in tibial fragrances of male orchid bees, Euglossa spp. HHA is a chiral molecule with four possible stereoisomers, (6R,10R)-, (6R,10S)-, (6S,10R)-, and (6S,10S)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one. In the present study, we characterized HHA extracted from Euglossa as the pure enantiomer (6R,10R)-6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one. During bioassays in Mexico and Panama, the synthetic RR-isomer attracted males of six species of orchid bees, including three that were known to contain HHA in their tibial fragrances. Possible sources of HHA for wild bees are flowers of euglossophilous orchids and aroids. With a molecular weight of 268, HHA is the largest natural molecule known to attract male orchid bees in pure form. Its attractiveness to males suggests that low-volatility compounds have a function in male signals, e.g., serve as a "base note" in complex odor bouquets. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Background: Female sex pheromones attracting mating partners over long distances are a major determinant of reproductive isolation and speciation in Lepidoptera. Males can also produce sex pheromones but their study, particularly in butterflies, has received little attention. A detailed comparison of sex pheromones in male butterflies with those of female moths would reveal patterns of conservation versus novelty in the associated behaviours, biosynthetic pathways, compounds, scent-releasing structures and receiving systems. Here we assess whether the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana, for which genetic, genomic, phylogenetic, ecological and ethological tools are available, represents a relevant model to contribute to such comparative studies.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a multidisciplinary approach, we determined the chemical composition of the male sex pheromone (MSP) in the African butterfly B. anynana, and demonstrated its behavioural activity. First, we identified three compounds forming the presumptive MSP, namely (Z)-9-tetradecenol (Z9-14:OH), hexadecanal (16:Ald) and 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-ol (6,10,14-trime-15-2-ol), and produced by the male secondary sexual structures, the androconia. Second, we described the male courtship sequence and found that males with artificially reduced amounts of MSP have a reduced mating success in semi-field conditions. Finally, we could restore the mating success of these males by perfuming them with the synthetic MSP.

Conclusions/Significance: This study provides one of the first integrative analyses of a MSP in butterflies. The toolkit it has developed will enable the investigation of the type of information about male quality that is conveyed by the MSP in intraspecific communication. Interestingly, the chemical structure of B. anynana MSP is similar to some sex pheromones of female moths making a direct comparison of pheromone biosynthesis between male butterflies and female moths relevant to future research. Such a comparison will in turn contribute to understanding the evolution of sex pheromone production and reception in butterflies.

Enantioselective acylation of some (±)-3-alkyl-3-phenyl-l-propanols was performed with enzymes as catalysts. Moderate enantiomeric ratios (E), ranging up to E = 11.6, were obtained. In the resolution, some of the lipases selectively acylated the (+)-enantiomer while others acylated the (-)-enantiomer of the γ-substituted primary alcohols 1-4. Thus, it is possible to obtain both enantiomers of the alcohols as remaining substrate with high enantiomeric purity. The resolution of (±)-4,4-dimethyl-3-phenyl-1-pentanol 4 was extensively studied and screening experiments were conducted to select suitable lipase(s), reaction medium, acyl donor and appropriate temperature combinations to increase the enantiomeric ratio. Chirazyme® L-6/chloroform/vinyl propionate/38 °C and Chirazyme® L-7/di-iso-propyl ether/vinyl propionate/0 °C were chosen to obtain both enantiomers, (R)-(+)-4 and (S)-(-)-4, respectively, via sequential resolutions in excellent enantiomeric excess (>98%) and in 25% and 22% yield, respectively.

The racemic synthetic building block (2R*,3R*)-3-methyl-4-(phenylsulfanyl)butan-2-ol (2R*,3R*)-2 was obtained in a high diastereomeric ratio [95:5, (2R*,3R*)/(2R*,3S*)-ratio] by Lewis acid catalysed dimethylzinc addition to racemic 2-methyl-3-(phenylsulfanyl)propanal (rac-1). Two consecutive acylations with vinyl acetate catalysed by Chirazyme L-2 (immobilised Candida antarctica lipase 13, CAL-B) led to preferential esterification of three of the four stereoisomers leaving (2S,3S)-3-methyl-4-(phenylsulfanyl)butan-2-ol (2S,3S)-2 of 98:2 dr and 98% ee. The stereoisomerically impure acetate of (2R,3R)-3-methyl-4-(phenyisulfanyl)butan-2-ol (2R,3R)-2, obtained in the first CAL-B-catalysed acylation step, was hydrolysed and reesterified using CAL-A (immobilised Novozyme SP 525) as the catalyst, which left (2R,3R)-3-methyl-4-(phenylsulfanyl)butan-2-ol (2R,3R)-2 of 98:2 dr and 99% ee as the remaining substrate. The individual enantiomers of 2-methyl-3-(phenylsulfanyl)propanal 1 were prepared from readily available (S)- and (R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid methyl ester and reacted with dimethylzinc to give both enantiomers of (2R*,3R*)-3-methyl-4-(phenylsulfanyl)butan-2-ol (2R, 3R)- or (2S,3S)-2 of both high dr and ee. These products were purified by lipase catalysed acylation to give the enantiomerically and diastereomerically highly pure enantiomers (>99.5:0.5 dr, >99.9% ee). Pure (2S,3S)-3-methyl-4-(phenylsulfanyl)butan-2-ol (2S,3S)-2 was transformed into a potential pheromone precursor isolated from some pine sawflies of the genus Gilpinia, (2S,3R)-3-methylpentadecan-2-ol in 54% yield over eight steps.