A Two‐Step Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of the Natural Pheromone (+)‐Sitophilure Utilizing Isolated, NADPH‐Dependent Ketoreductases

Abstract

Abstract Isolated, NADPH‐dependent ketoreductases were used for the synthesis of the aggregation pheromone of the pests rice weevil ( Sitophilus oryzae L.) and maize weevil ( Sitophilus zeamais M.). This is the easiest and most straight forward synthesis of pheromone (+)‐Sitophilure in two steps and an overall yield of 81 %, starting from commercially available 3,5‐heptanedione. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)