Reproductive Regulating Pheromones of Queen Ant: A Short and Versatile Synthesis of 3,11-Dimethylheptacosane

Social behavior of insects always fascinates human beings as they appear to maintain good order and communication in the society.1 Insects have developed sophisticated chemical communication systems using their pheromones for the purpose.2 Among the pheromones, cuticular wax is used to recognize group members from non-members.3 In ants, there have been identified close to 1,000 cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs)4 and the composition of CHCs of cuticles works for the discrimination between their friends and foes.3 Some species of ants are known to use cuticular wax of the dead ants in other colonies to disguise their identity when they invade other colonies.1b It was known that the antennae of ants recognize the composition of the CHCs but the exact mechanism of this recognition has not been well studied.5 The CHCs on the cuticles are also used to distinguish th