A new method for the preparation of 1,5-diynes. Synthesis of (4E,6Z,10Z)-4,6,10-hexadecatrien-1-ol, the pheromone component of the cocoa pod borer moth Conopomorpha cramerella.

[reaction: see text] A new method for the synthesis of 1,5-diynes, from the reaction of 1,3-dilithiopropyne and propargyl chlorides, was developed. This new methodology was used to prepare (4E,6Z,10Z)-4,6,10-hexadecatrien-1-ol, one of the pheromone components of the cocoa pod borer moth Conopomorpha cramerella, in 51% overall yield.