Synthesis of the Enantiomers of 2-sec-Butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole and (1R,5S,7R)-3,4-Dehydro-exo-brevicomin, Pheromone Components of the Male Mouse,Mus musculus

Abstract

Two components [2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (1) and 3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (2)] of a male-produced pheromone of the mouse Musmusculus have been synthesized in optically active forms. The enantiomers of 1 were obtained with an enantiomeric purity of ca. 92% ee and were found to be readily racemizable. Asymmetric dihydroxylation was employed as the key reaction (15→16) allowing the preparation of (1R,5S,7R)-2 with ca. 94% ee.