Synthesis of citrophilus mealybug sex pheromone using chrysanthemol extracted from Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium)

Abstract

A commercial pyrethrum extract was used as a source of chrysanthemol for the synthesis of the citrophilus mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) sex pheromone. The chrysanthemic acid esters (pyrethrins I) were isolated and subsequently reduced to obtain chrysanthemol, which was used for ester pheromone synthesis. Field tests showed that the pheromone synthesized using plant-derived chrysanthemol was as attractive to male P. calceolariae as the pheromone obtained using a commercial isomeric chrysanthemol mixture.

Keywords:

• Chrysanthemol
• pyrethrins
• mealybug pheromone

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDEF) under grant D10i1208, the Fondo de Equipamiento Científico y Tecnológico – Conicyt (Fondequip) under grant EQM130154, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (via material resources program to JB), and the Dirección de Investigación-PUCV.