Intramolecular carbolithiation as a route to a sterically congested cyclopentene: synthesis of the longtailed mealybug pheromone.

A concise preparation of the pheromone secreted by the female longtailed mealybug [viz., 2-(1,5,5-trimethylcyclopent-2-en-1-yl)ethyl acetate] (1) is described. The key step in the synthesis of 1 involves 5-exo-trig ring closure of the vinyllithium derived from (Z)-1-iodo-4,4,5-trimethyl-1,5-hexadiene by lithium-iodine exchange.