New synthesis of the (3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-isomers of 9,10-epoxy-3,6-henicosadiene and 9,10-epoxy-1,3,6-henicosatriene, pheromone components of the female fall webworm moth, Hyphantria cunea.

(3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-9,10-Epoxy-3,6-henicosadiene (1) and (3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-9,10-epoxy-1,3,6-henicosatriene (5), pheromone components of the female fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea Drury), were synthesized by starting from (2S,3R)-2,3-epoxy-4-t-butyldimethylsilyloxy-1-butanol (8). Epoxide 8 was prepared by employing lipase-catalyzed asymmetric acetylation of (+/-)-8 as the key optical resolution step.