A convenient synthesis of (6R,7S)-(+)-himachala-9,11-diene, the pheromone of the chrysomelid beetle Phyllotreta striolata is described. The diene is obtained in a single operation by a spontaneous “bromination/dehydrobromination” of 2,6,6,9-tetramethylbicyclo[5.4.0]undec-8-ene. The halogenation/dehalogenation sequence proceeds spontaneously in CCl4, and is less uniform in CH2Cl2 and CHCl3. H NM...
