Volatile compounds were collected from apple branches (Malus domestica) at different developmental stages, and the antennal response of codling moth females (Cydia pomonella) to these compounds was recorded by electroantennography coupled to gas chromatography. Presence of a range of terpenoid compounds, many of which had antennal activity, was characteristic for volatile collections from branches with leaves, and from small green apples. Nine compounds from branches with leaves and green fruit consistently elicited an antennal response: methyl salicylate, (E)-beta-farnesene, beta-caryophyllene, 4,8-dimethyl-1,3(E),7-nonatriene, (Z)3-hexenol, (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene, linalool, germacrene D, and (E,E)-alpha-farnesene. The bouquet emitted from flowering branches contained in addition several benzenoid compounds which were not found after bloom. Small green apples, which are the main target of codling moth oviposition during the first seasonal flight period, released very few esters. In comparison, fully grown apples released a large number of esters, but fewer terpenoids. The study of apple volatiles eliciting an antennal response, together with a survey of the seasonal change in the release of these compounds, is the first step toward the identification of volatiles mediating host-finding and oviposition in codling moth females.

The attraction of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella , to apple volatile compounds known to elicit an antennal response was tested both in the field and in a wind tunnel. In the field, ( E )-β -farnesene captured male moths. The addition of other apple volatiles, including ( E , E )-α -farnesene, linalool, or ( E , E )-farnesol to ( E )-β -farnesene did not significantly augment trap catch. Few females were caught in traps which also caught male moths, but female captures were not significantly different from blank traps. In the wind tunnel, males were attracted to ( E , E )-farnesol, but not to ( E )-β -farnesene. The addition of ( E , E )-α -farnesene to ( E )-β -farnesene had a synergistic effect on male attraction. The male behavioural sequence elicited by plant volatiles, including upwind flight behaviour, was indistinguishable from the behaviour elicited by sex pheromone.

Identification of host volatile compounds attractive to codling moth Cydia pomonella, a most important insect of apple, will contribute to the development of safe control techniques. Synthetic apple volatiles in two doses were tested for antennal and behavioural activity in codling moth. Female antennae strongly responded to (Z)3-hexenol, (Z)3-hexenyl benzoate, (Z)3-hexenyl hexanoate, (±)-linalool and E,E-a-farnesene. Two other compounds eliciting a strong antennal response were the pear ester, ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate, and its corresponding aldehyde, E,E-2, 4-decadienal, which is a component of the larval defence secretion of the European apple sawfly. Attraction of codling moth to compounds eliciting a strong antennal response was tested in a wind tunnel. Male moths were best attracted to a blend of (E,E)-a-farnesene, (E)-beta-farnesene and ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate. The aldehyde E,E-2,4-decadienal had an antagonistic effect when added to the above mixture.

Isosorbide is a stiff bicyclic diol derived from glycose-based polysaccharides, and is thus an attractive building block for novel rigid bioplastics. In the present work, a highly regioselective biocatalytic approach for the synthesis of isosorbide 5-methacrylate was developed. The Lipozyme RM IM (Rhizomucor miehei lipase)-catalyzed process is straightforward, easily scalable, and chromatography-free; a simple extractive workup afforded the monomer at >99% purity and in 87% yield. The developed strategy was applied for the synthesis of a series of monomethacrylated isosorbide derivatives. Radical polymerization of the monomers produced rigid polymethacrylates with a certain side group in either endo or exo configuration, exclusively, which generated materials with great diversity of properties. For example, the two regioisomeric polymers carrying hydroxyl groups reached a glass transition temperature at T g = 167 °C. The polymer tethered with dodecanoate chains in exo position showed crystallinity with an unexpectedly high melting point at T m = 83 °C. In contrast, the corresponding sample with dodecanoate chains in endo positions was fully amorphous with T g = 54 °C. Efficient biocatalytic synthesis combined with attractive polymer properties opens possibilities for production of these biobased polymers on an industrial scale.