Pheromones and analogs from Neozeleboria wasps and the orchids that seduce them: a versatile synthesis of 2,5-dialkylated 1,3-cyclohexanediones

Chiloglottone, a wasp pheromone and attractant of sexually deceptive Chiloglottis orchids, and several structural analogs were synthesized. The synthetic approach is facile, high yielding and versatile, enabling rapid divergence to generate dialkylated analogs of chiloglottone. The key transformation was an organocadmium-mediated desymmetrization of glutaric anhydride derivatives. This library of synthetic 2,5-dialkylated 1,3-cyclohexanediones may assist in future identification of natural products in further species.