Synthesis of [3H2]-(11S,17R)-11,17-Dimethylhentriacontane: a Useful Tool for the Study of the Internalisation of Communication Pheromones of Ant Camponotus vagus

The convergent synthesis in high enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric purity of [3H2]-(11S,17R)-11,17-dimethylhentriacontane, a communication pheromone of ant Camponotus vagus is described. The stereogenic centres were introduced from commercially available (S)-citronellol and (R)-citronellal and the tritiation step was conducted in the last step of the synthesis with tritium gas over the Wilkinson catalyst.