Sir: Chirality often plays a critical role in the biological activity of molecules. This phenomenon is particularly important for the sex pheromone produced by the female Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, which has been identified as (R)-(-)-(Z)-5-tetradecen-4- olide. As little as 1% of the S, Z isomer can significantly reduce the response of male beetles to the R, Z isomer. The R and S enantiomers of the pheromone were originally prepared ...
