A General Method for the Synthesis of Nonracemic trans-Epoxides:  Concise Syntheses of trans-Epoxide-Containing Insect Sex Pheromones

A general method for the synthesis of chiral nonracemic trans-epoxides has been developed that provides rapid access to alkyl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl-, and phenyl-substituted trans-epoxides from aldehydes. This methodology has also been applied in concise and high-yielding syntheses of both trans-epoxide containing insect sex pheromones.