Identification of the sex pheromone of Scrobipalpula absolute; determination of double bond positions in triple unsaturated straight chain molecules by means of dimethyl disulphide derivatization

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)02172-8

The sex pheromone of Scrobipalpula absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was identified as a 92:8 mixture of (3E,8Z,11Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate (1) and (3E,8Z)-3,8-tetradecadienyl acetate (2) through mass spectrometric investigation of the dimethyl disulphide derivatives of excised sex pheromone glands. It is the first time that this method was used for triple unsaturated straight chain molecules. Compound (2) was identified as a new pheromone component. A synthetic mixture of the two identified compounds proved to be attractive in wind tunnel experiments.