Stereoselective synthesis of (5 R ,6 S )‐6‐acetoxy hexadecanolide—The major component of the oviposition attractant pheromone of the mosquito Culex pipens fatigans and its enantiomer from L ‐glutamic acid

A concise synthesis of the mosquito oviposition attractant pheromone, (‐)(5 R , 6 S )‐and (+)‐(5 S , 6 R )‐6‐acetoxy hexadecanolide from L ‐glutamic acid is described. The key steps are the inversion of the configuration at C‐4 of 7, and the formation of δ ‐lactone from the γ ‐lactone through ring enlargement.