SYNTHESIS OF CASHEW SHOOT BORER PHEROMONES: Anthistarcha binocularis

Abstract

Agribusiness is one of the main sectors of the economy in the country. In the last decades, Brazil started to export to more than 150 countries, being today one of the leaders in the field. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) products have a commercial value of billions of dollars a year. Cashew crop generates jobs in the countryside and industry of the northeast region, as it has a great ability to adapt to dry climate and low fertility soils. Another contributing factor is that a large part of the plant can be used and marketed, such as pruning wood, cashew nuts and nuts, the latter being the main product. However, in the last decade there has been a decrease in harvests, pest attacks being one of the main causes. The cashew shoot borer, Anthistarcha binocularis (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), represents one of the most harmful species to cashew. It reaches the branch of the plant, still in its larva form, causing wilting and consequent non-development of the fruit, leading to losses in production. Due to the lack of specific management, and the difficulty of access to the young forms of this insect, with the control mainly through insecticides, the use of pheromones represents a sustainable alternative for its control. Thus, the objective of this work is to synthesize (E)-6-dodecenol, (Z)-6-dodecenol, (E)-6-dodecenyl acetate and (Z)-6-dodecenyl acetate, possible pheromonal components of Anthistarcha binocularis. The characterization of the structures obtained was made by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Until now, Z-isomers of alcohol and acetate have been obtained. The overall yield for the products was 9.54% and 8% respectively. The route to Z isomers is being optimized to obtain material to be used in field testing to prove their activity.