Synthesis of (±)-7-episordidin

The stereoselective synthesis of (±)-7-episordidin, an aggregation pheromone from the male banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar, is reported. The key step of this work is a regioselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed diazocarbonyl CH insertion reaction that simultaneously generates three of the natural productʹs four stereocenters. The work reported herein also represents a formal synthesis of sordidin.