Characterization of (1'R,4S,4aR,7S,7aR)-dihydronepetalactol as a semiochemical for lacewings, including Chrysopa spp. and Peyerimhoffina gracilis

J Chem Ecol. 2002 Apr;28(4):849-64. doi: 10.1023/a:1015201129331.

Abstract

The enantiomerically pure diastereoisomers (1R,4S,4aR,7S,7aR)- (1) and (1R,4R,4aR,7S,7aR)-dihydronepetalactol (2) were synthesized diastereoselectively from a renewable resource, (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone (3), isolated as the main constituent of the essential oil of the catmint plant Nepeta cataria. The stereochemistry of the compounds was determined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, and the compounds were identified, respectively, as neomatatabiol and isoneomatatabiol, natural products from Actinidia polygama, for which the lactol stereochemistry was previously incompletely defined. Compound 1 was found to catch significant numbers of three species of lacewing in the field: in Korea. Chrysopa cognata, and in the United Kingdom, Nineta vittata and most notably Peverimhoffina gracilis. All species caught in significant numbers were found more frequently in traps releasing 1 than 2, while more C. cognata, C. formosa, and C. phyllochroma were found in traps releasing (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol (4). The catch of P. gracilis with 1 is of particular interest as this lacewing has only recently been recorded in the United Kingdom. Where sexed, the lacewings of all species trapped were found to be male, implying a possible pheromonal role for these or structurally related compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aphids / chemistry*
  • Aphids / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclopentane Monoterpenes
  • Cyclopentanes / chemical synthesis*
  • Cyclopentanes / chemistry*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Lactones / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Pyrones / chemistry*
  • Sex Attractants / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Cyclopentane Monoterpenes
  • Cyclopentanes
  • Lactones
  • Pyrones
  • Sex Attractants
  • dihydronepetalactol
  • nepetalactone